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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


^ 


o 


M  I.S  S  I  0  N  A  R  Y    REMAINS; 


SKETCHES  OF  THE  LIVES' 


EVARTS,  CORNELIUS,  AND  WISNER, 


WITH   AN   INTRODCCTIOIf, 


BY     SAMUEL     H.     COX,     D.    D. 


NEW-YORK : 

PUBLISHED  Br   TAYLOR   &    GOULD, 
Brick  Church  Chapel— opposite  the  City  Hall. 


1835. 


iD.  raaihtir,  Ptlnler. 


'  Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1835,  by  Tayler 
if  Gould,  in  the  clerk's  office  of  the  district  court  of  the  southern 
district  of  the  State  of  New-York. 


^is^i^^^^    A^  ^^^^t^    ^^>'X<r^  ^'^^.*^ 

INTRODUCTION;^  BX 


We  cannot  but  applaud  the  idea  of  presenting 
to  the  Christian  pubhc,  in  a  neat  and  portable 
form,  these  kindred  biographies.  Evarts,  Cor- 
nelius, Wisner!  names  dear  to  virtue  and  to 
God,  and  worthy  for  the  sake  of  posterity  to  be 
commemoraled  by  the  present  generation.  Some 
of  us  knew  them  all,  and  that  well  and  intimately ; 
and  for  a  Christian  to  do  this,  was  also  to  esteem 
and  love  them  unfeignedly,  and  even  to  revere 
and  admire  the  loftj'  and  lucid  elements  that  com- 
posed their  common  character.  Qualities  in  com- 
mon they  had,  of  a  high  and  a  holy  order ;  though 
each  possessed  peculiarities  of  his  own,  which, 
while  they  defined  the  individual,  imparted  to  their 
possessor  an  excellence  entirely  personal  and  ap- 
propriate. Blessed  triumvirate  !  they  know  what 
it  is  lo  depart  and  be  mitk  Christ.  But  they 
died  too  soon  for  the  welfare  of  mortals.  The 
dead  are  immortal — it  is  the  living  only  that  die. 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

They  live,  they  greatly  live,  a  life  oh  earth*   »v  ^* 

Unkindled,  unconceiv'd ;  and  from  an  eye 

Of  tenderness,  let  heavenly  pity  fall 

On  us,  more  justly  number'd  with  the  dead.  ' 

Whatever  else  may  be  said  of  the  departure  of 
the  wise  and  eminently  good,  one  thing  is  certain 
— it  is  intrinsically  a  loss  to  the  church  and  a  loss 
to  the  world.  The  salt  of  the  earth — the  light  of 
the  world — the  company  of  whom  the  world  is 
not  worthy,  are  reduced  by  their  absence  and  im- 
poverished by  their  removal.  Hence  it  has  ever 
been  a  mark  of  wisdom,  and  an  indication  of  sen- 
sibility purely  Christian,  to  bewail  their  exit ;  to 
weep  over  their  tombs  the  tears  not  only  of  sym- 
pathy, but  of  reflection  and  principle  and  genuine 
devotion.  Thus  the  inspired  Scriptures  every 
where  authorize  the  deep  lament  of  the  church,  at 
the  loss  of  her  glorified  worthies.  Help,  Lord ; 
for  the  godly  man  ceaseth ;  for  the  faithful  fail 
from  among  the  children  of  men.  The  irreligious 
are  rebuked  in  the  same  relation,  for  their  obtuse- 
ness  or  indifference.  The  righteous  pensheth, 
and  no  man  layeth  it  to  heart ;  and  merciful  men 
are  taken  away,  none  considenng  that  the  right' 
eons  is  taken  away  from  the  evil  to  come.     He 


INTRODUCTION.  5 

shall  enter  into  peace.  They  shall  rest  in  their 
bedsf  each  one  walking  in  his  uprightness.  Very 
lively  in  grief  were  the  feelings  of  the  disciples  of 
John,  when  their  master  was  beheaded  in  the 
prison,  at  the  order  of  the  impious  Herod  Anti- 
pas.  And  his  disciples  came,  and  took  up  the  bo- 
dy, and  buried  it,  and  went  and  told  Jesus, 
Admirable  resource  !  Creation  could  not  afford 
it  to  them,  nor  tyrants  take  it  away.  It  is  the 
same  in  all  ages  ;  and  it  seems  to  have  been  the 
experience  of  the  primitive  church,  in  their  new 
and  strange  affliction,  when  the  beloved  proto- 
martyr  was  cruelly  stoned  to  death.  And  devout 
men  candied  Stephen  to  his  bunal,  and  made  great 
lamentation  over  him. 

And  well  it  were  for  the  American  churches, 
and  especially  those  most  interested  in  the  cause 
OF  MISSIONS,  to  feel  deeply,  weep  wisely,  and  in  the 
day  of  adversity  consider,  in  view  of  their  recent 
calamities.  This  little  volume  contains  only  u 
signal  specimen,  while  it  is  certainly  an  apt  me- 
morial, of  what  we  have  suffered.  The  first 
Secretary  of  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  Foreign  Missions,  Worcester, 
left  us  comparatively  in  the  ripeness  of  his  days, 
1* 


6  J  INTRODUCTION. 

and  after  a  career  of  usefulness  comparatively 
long.  Not  so  his  excellent  successors ;  of  the 
principal  events  of  whose  lives  respectively,  this 
volume  contains  an  authentic  sketch.  All  three 
of  them  died  almost  in  the  novitiate  of  their  offi- 
cial administration,  and  almost  in  as  many  years. 
This  indeed  was  swift  succession!  And  is  the 
place  fatal  ?  Is  God  displeased  with  it  ?  Is  it  the 
post  for  victims  ?  0  ye  nobles  of  the  court  of 
God,  how  can  we  spare  you,  how  tolerate  or  how 
repair  your  loss !  Alas !  they  are  far  removed 
from  the  things  and  the  men  of  time. 

But  we  may  not  idly  inquire,  or  vainly  exclaim, 
at  this  season.  Be  sober  and  watch  unto  prayer., 
seems  to  be  in  general  the  language  of  providence 
to  us.  No  doubt,  God  means  something,  by 
these  events  ;  and  by  many  and  some  very  sig- 
nal rebukes,  as  we  may  term  them,  which  have 
recently  arrested  or  shocked  the  progress  of  mis- 
sions to  the  heathen.  Let  us  examine  ourselves. 
May  we  not  help  a  cause  of  such  divine  magnifi- 
cence as  this,  from  improper  or  defective  mo- 
tives? It  may  suit  our  self-complacency  too  well, 
to  be  constructively  the  friends  of  such  philan- 
thropy and  the  allies  of  its  Eternal  Author.    Aid- 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

ing  an  enterprise  so  immensely  good,  we  may 
overrate  our  own  goodness,  and  forget  or  dispa- 
rage the  hallowed  excellence  which  we  little  re- 
semble or  assist.  The  ark  of  God  will  not  cndine 
to  be  desecrated,  or  even  touched,  with  unhal- 
lowed hands.  We  ought  all  to  have  the  temper  of 
the  Gospel;  and  actuated  by  its  virtues,  to  sub- 
serve its  ascendency  in  the  world.  Do  we  love 
God  and  man,  with  an  affection  simple,  identical, 
principled,  and  symmetrical  in  all  its  relations  ? 
Or  do  we  only  gratify  one  set  of  partial  affections 
in  this  thrice  honorable  way,  which  seems  only 
impartial  and  catholic  as  the  love  of  heaven  ? 
Do  we  hate  a  brother  of  the  species  whom  we 
have  seen,  while  our  love  of  the  antipodes  is  so 
pains-taking  and  effective?  Do  we  wrong  and  in- 
jure our  fellow-creatures  in  our  own  country  and 
at  our  own  door,  while  we  prosecute,  as  if  in  com- 
pensation and  balancing  adjustment,  the  projects 
of  beneficence,  most  zealously  it  may  be,  in  the 
opposite  hemisphere  ?  If  so,  what  is  our  piety, 
our  philanthropy,  our  love  of  missions,  or  our 
kindness  to  the  heathen — what  is  it  all  worth? 
God  knows.  But  well  it  becomes  us  to  discern 
the  thoughts  and  intents  of  our  hearts  in  this  vital 


8  INTROnucTION.  ' 

relation ;  well  it  becomes  us  to  see  to  it  that  they 
are  what  they  ought  to  be ;  and  well  may  we  fear 
with  resolute  circumspection,  lest  at  last — at  the 
resurrection  of  the  just,  when  others  are  rewarded 
and  renowned  that  here  were  far  from  either,  we 
and  our  works  may  be  together  execrated  with 
hypocrites  and  unbelievers.  Whatever  there  may 
be  on  the  footstool,  there  is  impartiality  in  the 
throne.  If  we  would  triumph  at  last,  when  truth 
and  goodness  do,  we  must  serve  with  patience 
and  piety  through  this  term  of  peril,  when  truth 
and  goodness  can  only  prophecy  clothed  in  sack- 
cloth. The  implications  of  missionary  zeal,  are 
those  of  moral  splendor,  apostolic  and  divine.  If 
that  zeal  be  genuine,  its  excellence  is  of  the  rich- 
est sort  imaginable.  The  Prince  of  Mission- 
aries AND  THE  Founder  of  Missions,  is  Jesus 
Christ  himself.  His  religion  is  missionary, 
universally,  absolutely,  and  in  its  very  nature. 
The  middle  wall  of  partition  between  Jew  and 
Gentile,  was  forever  demolished,  by  hands  un- 
seen that  rent  in  twain  the  veil  of  the  Most  Holy 
Place.  Now  all  the  nations  are,  to  us  Christians, 
what  ancient  Israelites  were  to  each  other — each 
tribe  to  the  rest,  and  each  individual  to  his  frater- 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

nal  peers  of  the  nation.  Are  we  heartily  and 
soundly  at  one,  with  this  constitution  of  divine  be- 
nevolence ?  If  not,  our  piety  may  be  spurious  and 
our  zeal  perfidious.  If  not,  we  may  be  expensive 
in  our  donations  and  copious  in  our  prayers ;  we 
may  be  lauded  by  our  friends,  and  numbered  with 
the  best  of  the  good  ;  we  may  have  the  gift  of 
prophecy,  and  understand  all  mysteries  and  all 
knoii'ledge — yea,  ife  may  have  all  faith,  and  be 
the  very  paragons  of  orthodo.xy ;  we  may  be- 
stoio  all  our  ooods  to  feed  the  poor,  and  then  ^I're 
our  body  to  be  burned :  and  having  all  these,  but 
not  having  love,  vain  and  worthless  is  the  sum 
total  of  our  religion.  It  profiteth  us  nothing. 
The  usefulness  of  our  book,  is  matter  for  hope 
and  prayer  rather  than  prediction.  ^Ve  commend 
it  to  the  solemn  perusal  of  all  readers  ;  especially 
to  the  candid  appreciation  of  Christians  ;  and  su- 
premely to  the  benediction  of  God.  And  while  a 
thousand  spirits  bleed  together  in  vivid  remem- 
brance of  the  present  vacancy  ;  while  they  sym- 
pathize with  widowed  solitude  and  recall  the  do- 
ings of  departed  worth,  while  they  compute  the 
mighty  loss  sustained  by  such  related  multitudes 
and  millions  of  mankind  ;  let  them  not  despond  as 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

if  THE    CAUSE  AND  ITS  PaTRON  IN  HEAVEN  Were 

also  dead !  Let  them  say,  while  they  weep  near 
the  grave  of  Wisner  and  his  predecessors, 
The  Lord  liveth,  and  blessed  be  my  Rock,  and  let 
the  God  of  my  salvation  be  exalted  !  Let  them  pray 
renewedly  to  Him,  who  can  replace  on  earth  the 
men  he  takes  to  heaven  ;  who  can  direct  the  fall- 
ing mantle  of  the  ascending  Prophet,  to  some 
anointed  Elisha  that  shall  make  good  his  office  ; 
and  who  can  accomplish,  by  whatever  means  he 
chooses,  the  purposes  and  the  promises  of  the  Re- 
deemer's throne.  Of  the  increase  of  his  government 
andpeace  there  shall  be  no  end  ;  iipon  the  throne  of 
David  and  upon  his  kingdom,  to  order  it,  and  to 
establish  it  loith  judgment  and  loith  justice  from 
henceforth  even  for  ever.  The  zeal  of  the  Lord 
OF  hosts  will  perform  this. 


MEMORY  OF  EVARTS. 


BY    GARDNER    SPRI  NG,    D.  D. 


It  is  not  for  the  dead,  but  the  hving,  that 
we  pay  this  tribute  to  (he  memory  of  a  man 
in  every  view  entitled  to  the  love  and  honor 
of  the  American  churches,  "  The  dead 
know  not  any  thing."  The  pious  dead  have 
finished  their  course  with  joy ;  they  have  left 
the  present  state  of  existence ;  have  gone 
from  this  world  and  all  its  labors  ;  have  bid 
farewell  to  all  its  trials  and  sins ;  and  have 
entered  upon  a  state  of  being  where  our 
eulogy  cannot  reach  their  ear.  Our  re- 
proaches could  not  depress  them,  nor  can 
they  be  encouraged  by  our  applause.  We 
are  the  gainers  by  such  a  service.  It  grati- 
fies some  of  the  better  feelingfs  of  our  hearts  : 
and  one  right  feeling — right  in  the  view  of 
conscience,  and  of  heaven — is  worth  all  the 


12  MEMORY    OF    EV  ARTS. 

material  world.  The  material  world  shall 
die,  but  every  holy  aifection  shall  exert  an 
influence  on  our  character  and  joys,  and  shall 
endure  for  ever.  And  we  move  so  sluggishly 
in  our  way  to  heaven,  and  it  is,  at  best,  such 
a  zigzag  course,  that  we  need  the  stimulus  of 
bright  example.  When  we  contemplate,  Ave 
feel  encouraged.  There  is  a  radiance  that 
gleams  upon  us  from  the  grave  of  a  child  of 
God,  that  alleviates  our  gloom,  and  lifts  our 
eye  to  mansions  in  the  skies. 

It  is  the  allotment  of  some  men  to  '■'■  hve 
after  they  are  dead."  Antiochus  did  ;  Alex- 
ander and  Tamerlane  did  ;  Napoleon  did ; 
and  in  deeds  of  horrid  tragedy,  and  direful 
influence  upon  successive  generations  of  men. 
And  so  did  Howard  and  Clarkson,  Yenning 
and  Sharpe,  Watts  and  Howe,  Edwards  and 
Dwight ;  and  by  a  career  so  exalted,  and  in 
deeds  of  such  extensive  benevolence,  that 
their  very  history  has  meliorated  the  condi- 
tion of  mankind.  And  who  will  not  feel  the 
obligation  of  living  for  those  who  come  after 
him?  Who  may  not  do  it — as  men  of  letters, 


MLMORV    Ol     EVARTS.  13 

as  men  of  power  and  nifliiencej  as  men  of 
wealth,  as  men  of  piety  ?  Who,  that  looks  at 
the  condition  of  the  world,  the  shortness  and 
frailty  of  life,  the  activity  and  pernicious  in- 
fluence of  wicked  men,  and  the  command  of 
God,  will  not  aim  at  being  useful  after  he 
has  descended  to  the  tomb  ?  And  why  should 
not  the  name  of  such  a  man  be  embalmed  in 
the  recollection  of  those  he  has  left  on  earth  ? 
And  why  should 

" History,  so  warm  on  meaner  ihemcy, 


"Be  cold  on  this?" 

Among  the  distinguished  men  who  shall 
be  had  in  everlasting  remembrance,  is  the 
late  Jeremiah  Evarts.  There  arc  few  men 
in  this  land  who  have  sustained  a  more  hon- 
orable character,  or  whose  biography  may  be 
recited  with  more  unmingled  gratification. 

Mr.  Evarts  entered  upon  his  career  at  a 
most  eventful  period  of  the  world — a  period 
about  to  be  distinguished  by  changes  in  this 
land,  and  other  lands,  in  the  civil  and  eccle- 
siastical alfairs  of  men,  and  especially  in  the 
great  movements  of  Christian  benevolence, 
2 


14  MEMORY    OF    KVARTS. 

which  eminently  indicated  that  the  Redeem- 
ing God  and  Savior,  by  a  series  of  dispensa- 
tions, alternated  by  success  and  disaster,  con- 
fidence and  alarm,  hope  and  fear,  was  about 
to  gather  together  the  nations  of  the  earth, 
and  the  kingdoms  of  the  nations,  to  the  last 
moral  conflict  which  should  agonize  this 
guilty,  suffering  world.  Think  of  the  events 
that  have  taken  place  on  the  earth  within  the 
last  fifty  years.  The  youth  and  manhood  of 
Mr,  Evarts  have  occupied  nearly  the  whole 
of  this  wonderful  period.  Just  as  this  new 
and  splendid  era  was  about  to  be  introduced, 
he  was  cradled  on  yonder  mountains.  The 
first  missionary  society  was  established  ;  the 
fii'st  revival  of  religion,  in  a  series  thus  far 
unbroken,  commenced ;  and  the  first  memo- 
rable calamity  began  to  fall  on  the  nations 
which  had  given  their  power  and  strength 
to  the  Beast ;  while  he  was  a  youth,  and  pre- 
paring for  the  part  he  was  about  to  act  in 
these  moral  revolutions.  He  entered  on  ac- 
tive life  at  a  period  when  he  was  called  ex- 
tensively to  influence  the  opinions  of  men, 


MEMORY    OF    KVARTS.  15 

and  to  exert  an  agency  in  originating  and 
carrying  forward  designs  that  were  to  elevate 
the  character  of  the  church,  and  fill  the  earth 
with  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  the  Lord, 
as  the  waters  cover  the  sea.  Whoever  here- 
after writes  his  history,  will  find  it  in  those 
developments  of  light  and  love  which  illu- 
mine the  histoiy  of  the  American  churches 
within  the  last  thirty  years.  Tlie  God  of 
heaven  raised  up  this  his  servant  for  a  great 
and  special  work,  and  eminently  qualified 
him  for  the  high  service  to  which  he  was 
destined.  In  some  respects,  he  seemed  most 
unfitted  for  it ;  for,  from  his  youth  up,  he  was 
apparently  fitted  for  any  thins:  rather  tlian 
hardship.  But  he  was  like  the  bush  in  Horeb 
— consuming,  but  not  consumed.  And  we 
would  here  distinctly  and  gratefiilly  acknow- 
ledge the  goodness  of  God,  in  thus  making 
him,  for  so  long  a  period,  the  favored  instru- 
ment of  accomplishing  his  designs  of  mercy. 
Mr.  Evarts  was  born  of  respectable,  but 
humble  parentage,  in  the  town  of  Sunder- 
land, Vermont,  on  the  3d  of  February,  1781. 


16  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

At  the  age  of  ten  years,  he  removed  with  his 
father  to  Georgia,  in  the  same  state,  where 
he  completed  the  usual  English  education, 
and  entered  upon  the  study  of  the  Latin  lan- 
guage. In  January,  1798,  he  was  sent  to 
East  Guildford,  in  the  state  of  Connecticut, 
with  the  view  of  preparing  for  college,  under 
the  tuition  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Elliott,  the  minis- 
ter of  the  place  ;  and  in  October  of  the  same 
year,  he  entered  Yale  College,  then  under 
the  superintendence  of  the  late  President 
Dwight.  His  journal  at  this  period,  though 
veiy  brief,  exhibits  many  indications  of  a 
thinking,  independent  mind,  that  felt  the  re- 
sponsibility of  guiding  and  forming  itself 
upon  a  high  standard  of  excellence.  His 
conversion  took  place  during  a  remarkable 
outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God  upon  the 
college,  during  his  senior  year,  in  the  Avinter 
of  1801-2;  and  in  the  April  following,  he 
made  a  public  profession  of  religion,  and 
united  himself  with  the  church  in  the  college. 
At  the  time  his  class  graduated,  in  1802,  he 
united  with  those  of  his  classmates  who  were 


MEMORY    OF    EVARTS.  17 

professors  of  religion,  in  a  mutual  covenant^ 
a  copy  of  which  has  been  found  among  his 
private  papers,  to  pray  for  each  other,  to  learn 
one  another's  circumstances,  and  to  corre- 
spond with,  Eind  counsel  one  another,  in  sub- 
sequent life.  After  leaving  college,  he  en- 
gaged in  no  settled  employment  till  April, 
1803,  when  he  became  the  instructor  of  an 
academy  in  the  town  of  Peacham,  in  his 
native  state,  and  continued  in  this  charge 
till  near  the  close  of  March,  1804.  Shortly 
subsequent  to  this,  and  after  a  short  visit  to 
his  father's  family,  he  returned  to  New- 
Haven,  and  entered  himself  as  a  student  at 
law  in  the  office  of  the  late  Judge  Chauncey. 
Early  in  the  summer  of  1806,  he  took  the 
oath  of  admission  to  the  bar,  and  opened  an 
office  for  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  the 
city  of  New-Haven.  In  May,  1810,  he  re- 
moved to  Boston,  for  the  double  purpose  of 
taking  the  editorial  charge  of  a  literaiy  and 
religious  monthly  puljlication,  and  pursuing 
the  duties  of  his  profession.  He  continued 
in  the  editorial  department  of  tlip  Panoplist 


18  I'memory  of  evarts. 

till  the  work  was  discontinued  in  1820,  and 
was  himself  the  author  of  a  large  part  of  the 
original  articles  and  reviews  in  that  highly 
respectable  work.  Every  one  who  is  ac- 
quainted with  the  religious  and  ecclesiastical 
controversies  of  Massachusetts,  knows  with 
what  ability  that  work  was  edited ;  how" 
rapidly  it  rose  in  character  and  extent  of  cir- 
culation ;  and  how  important  an  agency  it 
exerted  in  stemining  the  tide  of  error,  and  in 
restoring  an  enlightened,  scriptural,  and  ac- 
tive piety  to  many  of  the  declining  churches. 
At  the  third  annual  meeting  of  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreiori  Mis- 
sions,  Mr.  Evarts  was  elected  a  member  of 
that  body,  and  at  the  same  meeting  was 
chosen  their  treasurer,  and  a  member  of  their 
executive  committee.  In  September,  1821, 
he  was  also  appointed  their  corresponding 
secretary,  in  which  office  he  remained  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  In  the  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  this  office,  he  visited  the  Cherokee 
and  Chocktaw  nations  in  1824,  and  the 
Cherokee,  Chocktaw.  and  Chickesaw  nations 


MEMORY    or    EVARTS.  19 

again  in  1826.  In  the  duties  of  this  office, 
also,  he  spent  three  or  four  winters  in  the 
city  of  Washington,  during  the  session  of 
congress,  where  his  principal  object  was  to 
exert  an  influence  in  favor  of  the  education 
and  civihzation  of  the  Indians,  and  especially 
their  protection  from  oppressive  legislation. 

The  health  of  Mr.  Evarts  had  been  de- 
clining for  more  than  a  year  previous  to  his 
decease.  During  the  winter  of  1829-30, 
though  feeble,  and  evidently  needing  the 
benefit  of  relaxation  and  a  warm  climate, 
he  continued  his  labors  at  the  missionary 
rooms  till  about  the  1st  of  April,  when  he  re- 
paired again  to  the  city  of  Washington.  The 
debate  on  the  Indian  bill  was  just  commenc- 
ing. The  excitement  and  labor  of  the  months 
of  April  and  May  were  intense  ;  and  he  re- 
turned to  Boston,  with  his  health  little,  if  at 
all,  improved.  During  the  summer  and  early 
part  of  the  autumn  he  was  laboriously  em- 
ployed in  preparing  the  annual  report  of  the 
board,  publishing  the  speeches  on  the  Indian 
bill,  writinor  on  the  Indian  question,  and  at- 


20  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

tending  to  the  common  business  at  the  mis- 
sionary rooms.  After  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  board,  these,  or  similar  labors,  continued  ; 
and  added  to  these,  he  spent  a  fortnight  at 
New-Bedford,  superintending  the  embarka- 
tion of  a  reinforcement  to  the  Sandwich 
Islands  mission.  Here  he  was  exposed 
to  cold  and  storms,  and  exerted  himself  in 
writing  and  addressing  public  assemblies  in 
the  vicinity  on  the  subject  of  missions.  He 
returned  from  New-Bedford  December  29th, 
much  debilitated,  and  could  labor  only  at  in- 
tervals afterward.  He,  however,  wrote  the 
memorial  of  the  board  to  congress,  in  behalf 
of  the  Indians,  while  he  was  so  weak  as 
every  hour  or  two  to  be  obliged  to  lie  dowai 
and  rest.  He  wrote,  also,  a  number  of  im- 
portant letters.  His  last  letter,  as  correspond- 
ing secretary  of  the  board,  was  written  to  the 
missionaries  in  the  Cherokee  nation,  relative 
to  their  removing  or  remaining,  and  expos- 
ing themselves  to  the  penalty  of  the  laws  of 
Georgia.  The  part  he  took  in  behalf  of  the 
Indians,  was  such  as  might  be  expected  from 


MEMORY    OF    EVARTS.  21 

such  a  man.  He  was  early  applied  to  to 
second  the  effort  that  was  about  to  be  made 
to  effect  their  removal  beyond  the  Mississippi, 
but  he  saw  no  good  to  come  from  it  to  them, 
and  he  abhorred  and  detested  the  means  used 
to  secure  it.  He  was  present  when  the  bill 
to  effect  their  removal  passed  the  house  of 
representatives — a  bill  that  marks  this  repub- 
lic faithless  toward  its  dependents.  And  when 
tlie  vote  was  passed,  Mr.  Evarts  remarked  to 
a  member  of  congress  who  sat  near  him — 
"  My  comfort  is,  that  God  governs  the  world ; 
and  my  hope  is,  that  when  the  people  of  the 
United  States  come  to  understand  the  subject, 
there  will  a  redeeming  spirit  arise  ;  for  I  will 
not  believe  tliat  the  nation  is  yet  lost  to  truth 
and  honor."  His  anxiety  and  labors  on  this 
question,  the  distress  he  felt  in  view  of  the 
violation  of  the  good  fliith  of  the  nation,  and 
of  the  rights  of  the  Cherokees,  his  appreiion- 
sions  of  the  suffering  which  would  come  on 
the  Indian  tribes,  and  of  the  judgments  of 
heaven  which  would  visit  this  country  lor 
their  treachorv,  kept  his  mind  in  a  state  of 


22  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

exhausting  excitement  for  the  last  year  and 
a  half  of  his  life,  which,  together  with  the 
accumulated  labors  which  he  sustained  in 
consequence  of  this  great  effort,  without  doubt 
sunk  him  to  his  grave. 

These,  with  previous  trials  not  a  few,  had 
exerted  a  powerful  influence  in  the  formation 
of  a  character  every  day  becoming  more  meet 
for  the  rest  and  joy  of  a  higher  world.  God 
had  chosen  him  in  the  furnace  of  afihction. 
He  possessed  a  maturity  of  personal  religion, 
a  meetness  for  heaven,  which  was  the  result 
of  long  moral  training,  and  by  which  the 
Spirit  of  God  was  preparing  him  for  an  in- 
heritance incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that 
fadeth  not  away.  As  his  strength  declined, 
and  he  became  entirely  unable  to  attend  to 
business,  he  seemed  to  possess  a  mind  remark- 
ably detached  from  earth,  and  to  enjoy  pecu- 
liar fellowship  with  God.  He  spent  much 
time  in  reading  Baxter's  Saints'  Rest,  and  in 
contemplating  that  "  exceeding  and  eternal 
weight  of  glory"  on  which  he  often  used  to 
dwell  with  deligrhted  interest,  and  for  which 


MEMOKY    OF    tVARTr^.  23 

his  light  affliction,  which  was  comparatively 
but  for  a  moment,  was  preparing  him.  He 
iiimself  had  made  arrangements  for  a  journey 
by  land,  with  some  hope  of  recovering  his 
health,  at  least  for  a  season,  and  with  this 
view  attended  minutely  to  his  secular  affairs. 
His  o^vn  plan  was  to  proceed  to  Washington, 
and  endeavor  to  exert  his  influence  in  favor 
of  the  Lidians  till  congress  should  rise,  and 
then  go  on  an  agency  for  the  board  in  the 
middle  or  southern  states.  This  expectation 
he  continued  to  ciierish,  till  advised  by  his 
physician  that  a  voyage  to  a  warmer  climate 
was  the  only  probable  means  of  restoring  his 
health,  hi  this  he  cheerflilly  acquiesced  ;  and 
in  an  interview  with  his  associates  in  office, 
with  great  tenderness  and  aff'oclion  told  tiiem 
to  proceed  in  their  work,  without  reference 
to  him.  This  to  his  own  feelings  was  pro- 
bably the  most  trying  moment  of  his  life.  But 
he  did  not  faint  in  the  day  of  adversity.  God 
was  with  him.  Before  his  embarkation,  he 
Avas  to  an  uncommon  degree,  even  for  him. 
calm,  serious,  and  affectionate.    A  cheerful 


24 


MKMORV    OF    KVARTS. 


acquiescence  in  the  will  of  God,  an  entire 
and  joyful  trust  in  him,  a  bidding  adieu  to 
the  solicitudes  of  time,  and  a  tenderness  in  his 
intercourse  with  his  family  and  friends,  which 
cannot  be  described,  and  that  were  painfully 
foreboding,  seemed  to  say  that  he  should  see 
them  no  more.    And  had  he  been  assured  of 
it,  his  parting  from  them  could  not  have  been 
more  appropriate.    He  took  passage  for  the 
island  of  Cuba,  on  the  1.5th  of  February,  and 
reached  Havana,  after  a  favorable  voyage,  on 
the  2d  of  March.    But  his  health  was  not  im- 
proved.   After  spending  some  time  at  Havana 
and  Matanzas,  and  in  the  interior  of  the  isl- 
and, enjoying  every  advantage  of  climate, 
exercise,  and  kind  attention  of  friends,  he 
took  passage  for  Savannah,  and  arrived  there 
on  the  24th  of  April,  much  exhausted  by  the 
voyage.    In  a  few  days  his  symptoms  became 
alarming,  and  he  proceeded  to  Charleston, 
where  he  arrived  on  the  third  day,  much  ex- 
hausted   by  disease  and   pain.      Up  to  this 
time,  both  he  himself  and  his  physicians  had 
mistaken  the  nature  of  his  disease.    There 


MLMOKY     OF     EVAKTS. 


were  now  evident  indications  of  his  being  iu 
the  last  stages  of  a  consumption.  While  in 
Charleston,  he  received  every  possible  atten- 
tion from  eminent  physicians,  and  numerous 
friends.  He  contiiuied  steadily  to  grow  wea- 
ker, often  enduring  great  bodily  pain,  till  11 
o'clock  on  the  10th  of  May,  when  his  spirit 
was  permitted  to  leave  her  frail,  earthly,  dis- 
solved tabernacle,  and  enter  on  a  building  of 
God,  a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal 
in  the  heavens. 

As  a  testimony  of  the  approbation  of  his 
Divine  Master  to  his  work  of  faith  and  labor 
of  love,  he  was  permitted  to  enjoy  a  most  tri- 
umphant death.  I  have  seen  wicked  men 
die.  and  have  dwelt  with  melancholy  interest 
on  that  emphatic  description  of  the  in.spired 
preacher,  ''the  wicked  is  driven  away  in  his 
wickedness.-'  He  goes  unexpectedly;  he 
goes  unwillingly ;  he  is  forced  to  go ;  he 
goes  unreformed,  unpardoned,  unsanctified  ; 
he  goes  in  the  very  practice  and  love  of  sin. 
and  with  nothing  but  his  wickedness ;  and 
he  goes  to  be  forgotten.     ••  I  have  seen  the 


26  MEMORY    OF    KVAU'I'S. 

wicked,"  says  the  Psalmist,  '•  I  have  seen  the 
wicked  in  great  power,  and  spreading  him- 
self like  a  green  bay-tree ;  yet  he  passed 
away,  and  lo!  he  was  not.  Yea,  I  sought 
hini;  bnt  he  could  not  be  found."  There  are 
those  who  die 

"Forlorn  of  heart,  v.'ithered  and  desolate. 
"As  leaf  of  autumn,  which  the  wolfish  wind?, 
"  Selecting  from  its  falling  sisters,  chase 
"  Far  from  its  native  grove  to  lifeless  waste.-, 
"  And  leave  it  there  alone,  to  be  forgotter." 

It  was  not  so  with  Mr.  Evarts.  His  death- 
bed exhibits  a  scene  long  to  be  remembered, 
(^ome,  gather  around  it :  yes,  come,  see  him 
die.  But  rush  not  rudely,  "just  on  the  verge 
of  heaven."  It  is  an  atmosphere  beyond 
the  common  atmo.sphere  of  earth.  There  is 
a  deep  solemnity,  and  afflictive  tenderness 
here:  for  death  is  cold,  and  inexorable  ;  and 
yet  there  is  a  sweetness,  a  placidness,  which 
seem  reflected  from  purer  skies.  There  is 
no  alarm — no  dismay — no  withered  hopes — 
no  deep,  impenetrable  gloom.     Recollection 


MEMORY    OF    EVARTS.  'i/ 

rolls  not  its  dark  waters  by ;  nor  sin  its  tem- 
pest ;  nor  God  his  thunder ;  nor  eternity  its 
woes.  Long  ere  this  has  memory  washed 
its  stains  and  fed  its  streams  in  the  pure  river 
from  the  throne  of  God.  GuiU  and  ill  desert, 
those  conscious  fires  within,  have  long  ere 
this  been  quenched  in  fountains  of  atoning 
blood,  God  speaks,  but  it  is  in  tones  of 
mercy,  in  messages  of  love,  that  fill  the  soul, 
and  consummate  its  hopes.  And  eternity, 
through  that  dark  and  narrow  vale,  reveals 
its  cloudless  sky,  its  world  of  light,  its  Lamb, 
unce  slain.  And  yet  the  "chamber  where 
the  good  man  meets  his  fate,"  is  a  scene  of 
conflict.  The  spirit  struggles ;  the  immortal 
spirit  struggles  for  release  and  victory.  She 
would  fain  get  near  the  throne.  She  is 
striving  to  break  her  chains,  and  range  those 
fields  of  light.  She  is  restive  to  be  unclothed, 
and  clothed  upon  with  her  house  which  is 
from  heaven.  And  through  Him  that  loved 
her,  she  conquers. 

"A  feeble  worm  shall  win  tlie  day, 

"  Tlioiie'li  death  ai  d  hell  cib^trun  the  way." 


28  MEMORY    OF    KVARTS. 

Mr.  Evarts  did  not  die  suddenly,  IjuI  had 
sufficient  time  for  deliberate  thought.  He 
did  not  die  in  such  a  state  of  physical  debi- 
lity, or  intellectual  tumult,  as  to  be  incapable 
of  estimating  things  according  to  their  real 
value ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  he  possessed 
a  large  share  of  sobriety  of  mind,  and  cool 
reflection.  It  was  his  happy  privilege  to  have 
a  clear  view  and  strong  impression  of  the 
scenes  that  were  before  him,  and  they  ani- 
mated and  invigorated  all  his  hopes. 

Wlien  he  was  told  that  medical  attendance 
could  do  little  more  than  mitigate  the  vio- 
lence of  his  disease,  he  requested  that  several 
ministers  of  the  Gospel  might  assemble  in  his 
chamber.  "  I  know,"  said  he  to  them,  "  that 
my  case  is  extremely  critical,  but  I  find  it 
pleasant  to  be  in  the  hands  of  God,  who  will 
do  all  things  well.  I  have  no  painful  solici- 
tude as  to  the  result  of  my  sickness ;  but  I 
think  it  my  duty  to  use  every  means  for  my 
recovery ;  and  I  desire  an  interest  in  your 
special  and  united  prayers,  that,  if  consistent 
with  God's  will.  I  mav  recover ;  that  I  may 


MEMORY     OF    EVARTS.  29 

have  a  sweet  sense  of  pardoned  sin,  and  an 
unshaken  confidence  in  the  Savior ;  that,  if 
God  should  spare  my  Ufe,  I  may  be  uholly 
and  entirely  the  Lord's — consecrated  to  his 
service  ;  and  that,  if  it  should  please  God  to 
remove  me  by  this  sickness,  I  may  be  enabled 
to  glorify  him  on  a  bed  of  languishing  and 
pain,  and  that  his  precious  cause  may  be  pro- 
moted by  my  death."' 

The  following  day,  toward  evening,  he  re- 
marked, "  To-morrow  is  the  rest  of  the  holy 
Sabbath.  I  maybe  in  eternity  before  it  arrives."' 
Those  who  know  how  much  he  loved  the  Sab- 
bath, and  how  much  he  valued  and  enjoyed 
its  precious  rest,  can  easily  imagine  what  nuist 
have  been  the  state  of  his  mind,  when  the 
thought  occurred  to  him  that  a  day  so  near — 
the  day  wiiich  had  been  his  jubilee  on  earth — 
might  shed  its  first  rays  upon  Iiim  in  a  brighter 
and  purer  world.  Ajid  the  thought  obviously 
dwelt  upon  his  mind.  He  seemed  to  make  an 
effort  to  enlarge  upon  it,  but  he  hesitated,  and 
added,  "  my  mind  is  so  weak,  I  cannot  pursue 
a  train  of  thought ;  but,  T  bless  God,  it  is 
3* 


30  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

tranquil.     Not  my  will,  but  thine,  O  God. 
be  done." 

I  distinctly  recollect  to  have  heard  him  ex- 
press the  sentiment,  some  years  since,  that  he 
wondered  why  such  men  as  Dr.  Priestly  and 
other  modern  Unitarians  were  not  ashamed 
of  their  miserable  self-righteousness  and  in- 
dignant rejection  of  the  Gospel,  when  such 
men  as  Paul  and  Edwards,  and  Fuller  and 
Martyn,  placed  their  whole  trust  in  the  aton- 
ing blood  of  Christ.  We  might  add,  when  such 
men  as  Evarts  feel  the  need  of  a  righteous- 
ness in&iitely  better  than  their  owai,  and  take 
refiige  in  the  blood  of  the  cross,  what  shall  be 
thought  of  men  who  are  at  an  unspeakable 
remove  from  his  integrity  and  self-denial,  and 
yet  tread  that  blood  under  their  feet?  He 
expressed  a  firm  and  abiding  hope,  but  it  was 
in  the  Lord  Jesus.  To  one  who  remarked, 
"  We  hardly  know  how  to  spare  you  from  the 
missionary  cause,"  he  said,  "  Do  not  mention 
it,  do  not  mention  it ;  the  Lord  knows  best.'' 
And  in  a  few  moments  after  this,  remarked, 
"  My  work  is  almost  done ;    Jesus  reigns : 


MKMORY    or    EVARTS.  31 

blessed  be  He !  I  wish  to  lie  as  a  penilenl 
sinner  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.^^  This  ap- 
peared to  be  his  spirit,  ill  an  eminent  degree. 
In  the  course  of  the  evening  he  breathed  out, 
in  interrupted  and  broken  petitions,  a  short 
and  comprehensive  prayer,  making  a  full  and 
entire  surrender » of  body  and  soul  into  the 
hands  of  the  gracious  Redeemer,  and  at  the 
close  of  it  was  distinctly  heard  to  say,  "  O ! 
dear  Savior !  if  this  is  the  last  night  I  have  to 
pray  on  earth,  let  my  unworthy  prayer  be 
exchanged  for  praise  in  thy  kingdom  above ! 
Amen,  amen!" 

The  following  day  he  conversed  consider- 
ably, though  his  appearance  was  greatly 
changed,  and  he  was  gradually  sinking  into 
the  arms  of  death.  Those  who  knew  him, 
well  recollect  his  high  standard  of  Christian 
character,  and  the  deep  and  tender  interest 
he  felt  in  youthful  Christians.  I  perfectly 
remember  that  these  topics  occupied  much  of 
his  time,  and  many  of  his  thoughts  in  the 
early  part  of  his  Christian  history;*  and  they 

*  A  series  of   numbers,   csiliilcd  "An  addrese  to 


32  MEMOKY    or    EVARTS. 

were  topics  that  lay  with  great  weight  upon 
his  mind  during  the  last  days  of  his  life.  To 
a  young  professor  of  religion,  who  was  in  his 
chamber,  he  said,  "  You  have  professed  reli- 
gion while  young ;  so  did  I :  I  rejoice  in  it. 
All  I  have  to  say  to  you,  is,  endeavor  to  aim 
at  great  attainments,  the  present  age  demands 
great  things  of  Christians.  Be  not  satisfied 
with  being  half  a  Christian— be  entirely  con- 
secrated to  the  service  of  Christ.  There  are 
some  things  I  could  do,  if  it  be  the  will  of 
Providence  that  I  should  recover,  but  I  have 
no  will  of  my  own.  I  can  rejoice  that  I  am 
in  the  hands  of  the  Lord.  My  mind  is  per- 
fectly clear."  To  several  young  Christians 
who  stood  by,  he  said,  "I  feel  a  great  interest 
in  young  Christians.  I  want  to  exhort  you 
to  help  each  other.  Live  near  to  God.  Be 
bold  in  his  service — it  is  the  only  thing  worth 
being  bold  for:  do  not  be  afraid — ^the  Lord 
be  with  you !"     In  the  evening  he  requested 

young  persons  who  have  lately  made  a  profession  of 
religion,"  which  appeared  in  the  Panoplist  for  the 
year  ending  in  1811,  is  the  production  of  his  pen. 


MEMORY    OF    KVAIITS  6^ 

a  friend  to  read  to  him  the  13th  chapter  of 
the  first  Epistle  to  the  Corinthians,  after  which 
he  spent  some  time  in  silent  meditation,  and 
again  conversed  with  great  interest,  and  re- 
marked, with  emphasis,  ••!  am  willing  to  go; 
I  have  given  myself  all  awayP 

It  is  not  surprising  that  at  such  an  hour 
the  world  should  seem  as  nothing.  At  such 
an  hour,  it  is  nodiing  even  to  the  worldling. 
But  the  worldling  lets  it  go,  because  it  is  torn 
from  liis  heart ;  while  the  Christian  yields  it 
because  he  has  chosen  God  and  heaven  as 
his  supreme  good,  Mr.  Evarts  had  long  felt 
and  acted  as  a  "  pilgrim  and  stranger  on  the 
oarth."  The  prospect  of  leaving  the  world 
behind  him,  did  not  seem,  in  the  least  degree, 
to  disturb  his  tranquillity.  His  treasure  Wiis 
not  here.  The  next  morning  his  symptoms 
of  approaching  dissolution  increased,  and  lie 
felt  that  the  time  was  near.  He  spoke  of  it 
with  great  sweetness  and  familiarity,  and 
simply  said,  "  I  am  going  homeP 

Death  ha.s,  with  great  force  and  propriety, 
been  called  "  the  last  act  of  human  life."'   As 


34  MEMOR\     OF    EVARTS. 

he  saw  his  hour  of  departure  approaching,  he 
endeavored  to  collect  his  thoughts  to  perform 
this  last  act  in  such  a  manner  as  became 
him,  as  the  creature  of  God,  and  the  humble 
follower  of  the  blessed  Jesus.  Being  told 
that  he  had  but  a  short  time  to  live,  he  re- 
plied, "  The  will  of  the  Lord  be  done !"  And 
then  he  seemed  deliberately  and  solemnly  to 
address  himself  to  the  trials  of  the  dark  val- 
ley. '-Attend,"  said  he,  "to  what  I  now  say, 
as  to  the  words  of  a  dying  man.  I  wish,  in 
these  dying  Avords,  to  recognize  the  Great 
Redeemer  as  the  Savior  from  sin  and  hell ; 
able  and  willing  to  save  all  that  come  unto 
God  by  him.  To  him  I  commend  my  spirit, 
as  to  an  all-sufficient  Savior.  He  is  the  great 
champion  and  conqueror  of  death  and  hell. 
And  I  recognize  the  great  Spirit  of  God  as 
the  renovator  of  God's  elect.  And  herein,  if 
I  gather  strength,  I  wish  to  recognize  and 
acknowledge  the  church  of  God,  containing 
all  who  have  truly  dedicated  themselves  to 
him  in  a  new  and  everlasting  covenant." 
How  true  it  is  that  men  usually  die  as  they 


MEMORY    or    tVART?.  OO 

live!  How  perfectly  characteristic  \\u.s  tins 
of  Mr.  Evarts! 

His  love  to  the  saints  had  been  strong  and 
ardent ;  and  his  obligations  to  them,  as  the 
servant  of  Christ  and  the  missionary  cause, 
werc  not  few.  And  it  is  pleasant  to  see  that 
he  had  so  sweet  a  remembrance  of  these  ob- 
ligations in  his  dying  moments.  ''And  here 
permit  a  poor  unworthy  worm  of  the  dust," 
said  he,  "  to  give  thanks  to  many  of  the  chil- 
dren of  God,  from  whom  I  have  received 
confidence,  kindness,  and  favor,  as  a  disciple 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  Here,  for  the 
moment,  he  felt  as  though  he  had  uttered  all; 
but,  recollecting  himself,  he  added,  '"And  one 
more  duty."'  AV'ho,  that  knew  him,  has  read 
the  following  sentence  without  tears  ?  "  One 
more  duty:  if  in  any  respect  I  have  oifended 
the  children  of  God,  I  ask  their  forgiveness. 
If  I  have  grieved  them  by  impatience,  or  any 
other  way,  1  a.sk  their  forgiveness." 

About  two  hours  after,  a  clergyman  came 
ill,  and  asked  him  if  his  mind  was  in  a  happy 
state;  and  he  replied,  with  great  emphasis, 


3  6  .M  !■;  >I  0  K  V    O  t     K  V  A  K  T  .<, 

''  li  Is.  Christ  is  precious — he  does  not  fail 
me."  After  some  brief  conversation,  he  re- 
quested to  be  alone.  His  pain  became  severe, 
his  breathing  laborious,  and  the  hour  of  his 
release  was  just  at  hand.  About  9  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  he  requested  to  be  laid  in  a 
position  suitable  for  dying ;  and  here  began 
the  shout  of  A^ctory.  For  a  short  time  he 
seemed  to  lie,  like  a  little  child,  waiting  to  be 
removed,  and  expecting  every  moment  to  be 
translated  into  the  immediate  presence  of 
God.  But  suddenly  the  vail  was  drawn  aside, 
and  his  joys  seemed  like  those  of  Stephen, 
when  he  exclaimed,  "  I  see  heaven  opened, 
and  Jesus  standing  on  the  right  hand  of 
God."  Unexpectedly  to  all  around,  his  eye 
kindled,  his  clay-cold  lips  glowed  with 
praises,  and  he  burst  forth  with  expressions 
of  rapture  that  cannot  be  described — '-Praise 
him!''  said  he,  -praise  him!  praise  him!  in  a 
way  you  know  not  of!"  He  then  made  a 
short  pause,  and  said,  '•  "Wonderful,  wonder- 
ful, wonderful  glory!  We  cannot  understand 
— we  cannot  comprehend — wonderful  glory  I 


MLMORV    OF    EVARTS.  37 

1  will  praise  him — I  will  praise  liim!"  A 
moment  after,  he  inquired,  "  Who  are  in  the 
room?  Call  all  in— call  all — let  a  great  many 
come."'  And  then  he  exclaimed  again,  "Won- 
derful— glory — Jesus  reigns!"  After  this,  he 
sank  dowii  exhausted,  and  fell  asleep  in  Jesus. 
Thus  he  died,  in  the  fifty-first  year  of  his 
age,  and  descended  to  his  grave  like  a  shock 
of  corn,  in  his  season,  fully  ripe.  Thus  he 
died,  like  a  rich,  luxuriant  tree,  "broken  down 
and  killed  by  the  fruit."    Thus  he  died, 

"  And  with  the  everlasting  arms  embraced 

"  Himself  around,  stood  in  the  dreadful  front 

*' Of  battle  high,  and  warred  victoriously 

"  With  death  and  lieil ;  and  now  was  come  his  rest, 

'■  His  triumph  day, 

"  Waiting  the  promised  crown,  the  promised  throne, 
'■  The  welcome  and  approval  of  his  Lord." 

.Such  arc  the  triumphs  of  Jesus'  love.  "If 
any  man  serve  me,  him  will  my  Father 
honor."  Such  are  the  trophies  of  missionary 
grace.  Such  are  the  honors  of  the  missionary 
cause.  Hall  wore  them  fresh  and  vivid,  and 
they  decked  his  grave.  And  Newell  wore 
4 


38  MEiMORY    OF    EVARTff. 

them ;  and  Fiskc  and  Parsons  wore  (hem ,' 
and  Nichols,  and  Warren,  and  Mills  wore 
them,  in  all  their  fragrance  and  splendor. 

"  A  noiseless  band  of  heavenly  eolJiery 
"  From  out  the  armory  of  God  equipped, 
"High  on  the  pagan  hills,  where  Satan  sat 
"  Encamped^and  o'er  the  subject  kingdoms  threw 
"Perpetual  night,  to  plant  Immanuel's  cross j 

" and  in  the  wikierness 

"  Of  human  waste,  to  sow  eternal  life." 

"  He  that  will  lose  his  life  for  my  sake,  the 
same  shall  find  it."  Eternity  alone  can  tell 
how  much  such  men  loved  the  heathen.  And 
by  how  much  they  loved  the  heathen,  by  so 
much  will  the  measure  of  their  joys  increase, 
when  they  go  up  with  the  "  nations  of  the 
saved"  before  the  Son  of  man.  O  !  what  a 
scene  is  that,  when  pagan  nations  and  the 
missionaries,  and  men  that  have  been  the 
means  of  their  salvation,  shall  stand  before 
the  throne  of  God !  What  a  song  is  that, 
when  they  raise  their  melody  of  grateful 
hearts  to  heaven  !  There  is  Worcester.  And 
there  is  Evarts. 


MEMORY    OF    EVARTS.  39 

"See  where  he  walks  on  yonder  niounl,'lhal  hfls 
"  Its  summit  high  on  the  right  hand  ofbhss, 
"Subhme  in  glory,  talking  with  his  peers 
"Of  the  incarnate  Savior's  love,  and  passed 
"  Affliction,  lost  in  present  joy.     See  how 
"  His  face  with  heavenly  ardor  glowi?,'and  how 
*'  His  hand,  enraptured,  strikes  the  golden  lyre, 
"  As  now,  conversing  of  the  Lamb  once  slain, 
"  He  speaks ;  and  how  from  vinos  that  never  hear 
"  Of  winter,  but  in  monthly  har\'est  yield 
"  Their  fruit  abundantly,  he  plucks  the  grapes 
"Of  life." 

But  I  shall  not  meet  your  expectations,  nor 
gi-atify  my  own  wishes,  without  attempting 
to  present  a  brief  outline  of  the  character  of 
this  o-reat  and  excellent  man. 

The  intellectual  charartcr  of  Mr.  Evarts 
was  distinguished  for  strong  powers  of  rea- 
soning, [great  clearness  and  precision,  and 
remarkable  soimdness  and  comprehensive- 
ness of  judgment.  He  possessed  large  and 
rich  treasures  of  original  thought,  and  great 
powers  of  illustration.  He  had  great  activity 
and  copiousness  of  mind.  He  was  remark- 
ably capable  of  making  his  existing  stock  of 


40  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

ideas  extensive  materials  of  knowledge.  Eve- 
ry thought  he  acquired  added  to  his  capital, 
and  was  immediately  put  out  at  interest.  He 
had  a  taste  for  literary  and  scientific  pursuits, 
and  engaged  in  them  with  great  ardor  and 
zeal.  He  was  fond  of  speculation,  and  yet  he 
was  no  theorist.  Rarely  do  habits  of  abstrac- 
tion and  habits  of  business  unite,  as  they  were 
found  in  him.  His  talent  for  minute  and  ra- 
pid observation  was  not  exceeded  even  by  his 
talent  for  comparison  and  arrangement.  But 
what  was  peculiar  in  the  intellectual  charac- 
ter of  Mr.  Evarts  was  the  exact  adjustment 
of  the  several  faculties  of  his  mind  to  each 
other.  He  once  said  to  a  friend,  that,  in  early 
life,  he  was  inclined  to  be  hasty  and  positive 
in  his  judgment.  But  a  remarkable  balance 
was  observable  in  the  powers  and  operations 
of  his  mind.  At  almost  any  moment  he 
could  apply  his  mind  to  almost  any  subject ; 
could  pursue  that  subject  at  pleasure  ;  could 
change  it  for  another,  and  resume  it  at  any 
time,  and  almost  in  any  place,  and  in  the 
same  strain  of  sentiment,  however  elevated. 


MEMORY    OF    EVARTS.  41 

His  memory  was  remarkably  tenacious— ve- 
ry remarkably  so  for  dates,  considering  the 
strength  of  his  powers  for  general  analysis, 
reasoning,  and  judgment.* 

He  had  a  srreat  taste  for  statistical  observa- 
tions  and  calculations,  and,  indeed,  for  the 
whole  science  of  political  economy.t     Such 

*  He  was  rarely  mistaken  in  dates;  and  there  was 
a  surprising  number  of  events,  of  which  he  could  state 
in  a  moment  the  precise  time  of  their  occurrence.  He 
once  allowed  one  of  his  associates  at  the  missionary 
rooms  to  question  him  as  to  the  day  of  the  month 
and  of  tlie  week  on  which  he  entered  different  places 
on  a  journey  he  liad  taken,  some  years  hefbre,  in  the 
southern  states;  and  he  invariably  answered  prompt- 
ly, and  without  any  apparent  calculation.  When  he 
vv;is  asked,  by  what  process  of  mind  he  contrived  to 
associate  so  many  places  with  the  day  of  the  week  and 
of  the  month  in  which  he  visited  them,  he  replied,  that 
the  only  account  he  could  give  was  that  it  was  easy. 

t  He  made  a  calculation  of  the  probable  results  of 
tlie  census  of  the  United  Slates  for  1820,  which  was 
early  published  in  the  Boston  Recorder,  which  came 
80  near  (he  actual  result,  for  each  distinct  state  in  the 
union,  that  it  was  scarcely  credible  that  the  calcula- 
tion was  merely  a  conjectural  one. 
4* 


42  MEMORY    OF    EVART8. 

was  his  genius  and  taste  for  illustrating,  and 
inculcating  a  Christian  system  of  political 
economy — a  system  founded  on  the  great  law. 
"  As  ye  would  that  men  should  do  unto  you, 
do  ye  even  so  to  them" — that  some  of  his 
friends  seriously  thought  it  might  become  his 
duty  to  relinquish  his  particular  connection 
with  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  de- 
vote himself  to  the  conducting  of  a  paper, 
which  should  have  for  its  leading  object  a 
reformation  in  the  maxims,  rules,  and  admi- 
nistration of  civil  government. 

He  made  a  frequent  and  vigorous  use  of 
the  pen,  on  a  great  variety  of  topics,  and  was 
among  the  best  writers  of  the  age.*  He  wrote 
the  essays  on  the  Lidian  question,  signed 
William  Penn :  a  fact  which  enrolls  his 
name  among  the  friends  of  humanity,  and 
will  give  it  a  place  in  the  history  of  his  coun- 
try, when  the  oppressors  of  the  Indians  shall 

*  His  published  pieces,  in  June^  1814,  amounted  to 
229.  From  1814  to  1831,  thougii  no  account  of  them 
has  been  found,  they  were  still  greater  in  number,  and 
far  more  voluminous  and  weighty. 


MEMORY    OF    EVARTS.  43 

have  passed  away  like  the  chaff  of  the  sum- 
mer thrashing-floor.     A  glance  at  the  list  of 
his  publications,  with  a  Imowledge  of  their 
character,  will  show  any  one  that  he  had 
accustomed  his  mind  to  investigate  and  re- 
flect upon  a  great  variety  of  subjects,  and 
with  uncommon  accuracy  and  force.    It  was 
in  this  school  of  actual  labor  that  he  acquired 
the   ability  to  write  with   the  accuracy  of 
thought,  extent  of  knowledge,  variety  and 
appropriateness  of  illustration,  and  force  of 
diction,  which  characterized  his  productions 
during  the  last  year  of  his  life.  In  composing 
for  the  press,  which  he  did  to  a  great  extent, 
liis  page  was  usually  fair,  seldom  interlined, 
rarely  copied.    His  most  celebrated  composi- 
tions were  written  amid  many  interruptions. 
I'he  faculties  of  his  mind  operated  witli  so 
much  ease  to  himself,  that  a  great  mental  ef- 
fort, in  the  use  of  his  pen,  did  not  produce 
that  degree  of  bodily  exhaustion   which  is 
frequent  in  men  even  of  a  more  vigorous 
frame.     After  writing  intensely  for  hours,  he 
was  perfectly  fresh  for  conversation,  for  which 


44  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

he  had  a  pecuhar  rehsh,  whenever  he  had 
access  to  minds  congenial  with  his  own. 
This  balance  of  mind,  with  the  strengtli  of 
its  several  powers,  enabled  him,  although  of 
a  slender  constitution,  to  write  more  hours  a 
day,  taking  one  day  with  another,  than  al- 
most any  other  man. 

As  a  public  speaker,  he  was  manly  and 
energetic.  Li  deliberative  assemblies,  and 
in  extemporaneous  discussion,  he  was  very 
justly  celebrated.  Though  he  was  by  no 
means  distinguished  for  an  easy  and  melli- 
fluous utterance,  or  for  those  charms  of  per- 
son and  action  which  constitute  eloquence  ; 
yet  every  man  listened  to  him  with  the  deep- 
est attention,  and  felt  that  he  was  listening  to 
a  bold  and  commanding  orator.  He  had  a 
thin,  spare  person  ;  there  was  nothing  in  his 
manner  fascinating,  or  even  popular  ;  yet  he 
never  spoke  without  indicating  the  mascu- 
line texture  of  his  mind,  and  rarely  without 
an  energy  that  made  deep,  and  sometimes 
overwhelming  impressions. 

Mr.  Evarts  was  a  man  of  great  diligence 


MEMORY    OF    EVARTS.  45 

and  tintirbig  energy.  This  was  his  habit 
from  his  youth.  From  the  commencement 
of  his  course  in  the  preparatory  school  to  the 
day  of  his  death,  he  possessed  the  amazing 
advantage  of  unbroken  habits  of  industry.  I 
cannot  easily  fix  my  thoughts  upon  the  man, 
of  whom  it  may  be  so  truly  affirmed  that  he 
was  incessantly  occupied.  It  was  not  by  his 
superior  talents  merely,  but  by  his  indefatiga- 
ble diligence,  that  he  accomplished  so  much 
greater  amount  of  good  than  has  fallen  to 
the  lot  of  men  of  high  intellectual  endow- 
ment. He  appears  to  have  had  no  contest 
with  inactive  and  sluggish  habits,  and  was 
never  happy,  unless  actively  employed.  He 
seemed  to  feel  that  what  he  had  to  do  for  God 
and  his  fellow-men  was  to  be  done  in  a  li- 
mited period  of  time,  and  that  period  was 
very  short.  It  was  his  privilege,  too,  to  be 
occupied  to  some  good  account.  The  cele- 
brated Grollus,  the  father  of  the  modern 
science  of  the  law  of  nations,  and  one  of  the 
greatest  scholars  of  his  age,  is  said  to  liave 
exclaimed  on  his  death-bed, 

"lieu  !  vitam  perclidi  operosc  iiiliil  agendo." 


46  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

"Alas!  I  have  trifled  away  life,  laboriously 
doing  nothing!"  It  was  not  so  with  Mr. 
Evarts.  The  greater  part  of  his  life  was  full 
of  labors  and  events  that  were  intimately 
connected  with  the  best  interests  of  men.  In 
his  estimation,  it  was  no  hardship  to  spend 
his  strength,  and  wear  out  his  life,  for  the 
benefit  of  others.  For  the  last  thirty  years 
he  uniformly  acted  like  a  man  who  steadily 
kept  his  eye  upon  the  glorious  consequences 
of  living  and  dying  in  the  service  of  his 
Divine  Master.  And  let  not  his  example  in 
this  respect  be  soon  lost  sight  of.  Laborious 
and  unwearied  piety  is  the  piety  of  the  Bible. 
A  slothful  Christian  is  a  contradiction  which 
it  is  difficult  to  reconcile  with  the  lowest 
standard  of  holiness. 

With  this  view  of  his  intellectual  endow- 
ments and  diligence,  it  is  natural  to  conclude 
that  his  schorlarshij)  icas  of  the  first  order. 
It  was  during  his  junior  year,  as  a  member 
of  Yale  College,  that  I  first  knew  him.  And 
he  was  proverbially  the  severest  student  in 
the  colleo-e.    The  class  to  which  he  belonsred 


MEMORY    OF    KVART3.  47 

was  at  tluit  time  one  of  the  largest  and  best 
that  had  ever  graduated  at  that  venerable 
institution,  and  was  publicly  complimented 
as  such  by  its  late  president.  And  I  believe 
I  do  no  injustice  to  the  living  or  the  dead, 
when  I  say,  that  while  in  some  departments 
of  literature  he  had  some  superiors,  yet,  as  a 
general  scholai-,  distinguished  for  the  extent, 
accuracy,  and  utility  of  his  attainments,  he 
bad  none.  He  was  the  compeer  of  men  who 
iKiw  hold  some  of  the  tirst  places  in  the  con- 
iidence  and  gift  of  the  American  community. 
But  he  was  inferior  to  none  of  them.  I  well 
recollect  the  oration  he  pronounced  when  he 
roccivcd  the  deorree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  His 
tbcmo  was  the  Execution  of  Laws.  And 
wlieii,  at  the  close  of  it,  in  a  strain  of  com- 
manding eloquence,  he  introduced  Lord 
Mansfield  as  rebuking  the  British  commu- 
nity, it  seemed  as  though  every  heart  anticipa- 
ted in  the  youthful  speaker  some  future  cham- 
pion of  liberty  and  law  that  should  bo  tlie 
l)ride  of  his  country.  And  it  may  not  bv  un- 
interesting to  some,  here  to  state,  that  this 


48  MKMOUY    OF    EVARTS. 

performance  subsequently  appeared  in  a  series 
of  numbers  from  a  weekly  paper  printed  in 
Portland,  Maine,  and  was  publicly  attributed, 
by  the  editor  to  the  pen  of  Dr.  Dvnght! 
Mr.  Evarts  was  a  fine  specimen  of  character, 
founded  on  first-rate  scholarship.  Science 
had  given  him  an  enlarged  view  of  the  works 
of  God.  One  such  man,  in  the  pulpit,  at  the 
bar,  in  the  senate-house,  or  in  the  infirmary, 
well  qualified  by  thorough  intellectual  disci- 
pline and  literary  attainment,  is  worth  more 
to  the  church  and  the  world  than  fifty  men, 
whose  self-sufficient  and  erratic  course  is 
marked  by  little  else  than  honesty  and  zeal, 
and  who  leave  twice  as  much  to  be  unlearn- 
ed by  their  successors,  as  they  themselves 
ever  learned. 

Of  the  character  of  Mr.  Evarts^  7>'e/y, 
much  ought  to  be  said.  It  was  strongly  built 
upon  fixed  principles.  No  man  could  be  long 
in  his  company  without  observing  the  con- 
nection between  his  principles  and  conduct. 
This  was  one  of  the  lessons  which  his  every- 
day deportment  practically  taught,  and  with 


MEMORY    OF     EVARTS.  10 

great  clearness  and  strength.  Religion  with 
him  was  not  an  empty  notion,  nor  an  exter- 
nal form,  nor  the  usage  of  a  sect  or  party. 
Human  opinions  were  a  very  little  matter  to 
him,  when  opposed  to  the  declarations  of  the 
Bible.  To  these  he  gave  implicit  confidence, 
without  reserve  or  qualification.  If  there 
was  a  class  of  truths  to  which  he  felt  peculiar 
attaciiment,  they  were  those  which  have  ever 
been  most  obnoxious  to  a  world  lying  in 
wickedness  ;  which  are  most  discriminating 
in  their  moral  influence  ;  which  give  God  the 
throne,  and  prostrate  every  creature  at  his 
footstool.  I  have  not  the  means  of  knowing 
cxtensivelyhis  theological  views  in  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  ;  but  in  his  early  reading  he 
was  strongly  attached  to  the  works  of  Calvhi, 
Edwards,  and  Hopkins.  There  was  nothing 
of  bigotry  or  intolerance  about  him.  If  ho 
judged  any  man  with  severity,  it  was  himself. 
He  possessed,  to  an  unusual  degree,  a  candid 
mind.  I  have  rarely  met  with  a  man  who 
so  habitually  desired  that  every  doubtful 
opinion  and  measure  should  be  freely  and 
5 


50  MEMORY    OF     EVARTS. 

fully  discussed.  Aiid  hence  it  was  that  there 
was  nothing  boisterous  in  his  religion,  and 
nothing  transient.  It  was  no  fitfol  and  mo- 
mentary thing,  but  seemed  in^vrought  into 
the  very  temper  of  his  soul.  It  was  the  reli- 
gion of  intelligence,  system,  and  zeal ;  and 
seemed  to  pervade  with  its  vital  influence  all 
his  habits  of  thinking  and  principles  of  action. 
His  piety  also  was  remarkably  uniform. 
From  the  first  commencement  of  his  Chris- 
tian career,  he  possessed  several  strong  and 
prominent  characteristics,  and  they  remained 
in  all  their  strength  and  prominence  to  his 
dying  hour.  The  same  steadfastness  and 
sobriety  which  led  him  to  form  so  just  an  es- 
timate of  moral  objects,  the  same  high  stand- 
ard of  piety,  the  same  solicitude  for  young 
Christians,  the  same  interest  in  benevolent 
institutions,  the  same  self-renunciation  which 
shone  in  such  sweet  and  amiable  lustre  in  his 
dying  hours ;  were  exhibited  in  bold  and 
strong  relief  in  the  bright  morning  of  his 
hopes.  I  was  familiar  with  his  early  history: 
and  when  I  first  read  the  narrative  of  his 


MEMORY    OF    EVARTS.  51 

death,  I  could  not  help  saying,  '•  It  is  such  a 
death  as  I  should  expect  Mr.  Evarts  to  die. 
He  has  finished  his  course  as  he  began  it. 
His  light  never  waned,  but  Avas  strong  and 
steady  to  the  last." 

During  his  whole  course,  his  religious 
character  was  marred  by  comparatively  few 
blemishes.  He  was  every  where  circumspect 
and  watchful.  The  lustre  of  his  Christian 
reputation  has  never  been  obscured,  nor  his 
usefulness  abridged  by  any  real  or  alledged 
deviations  from  moral  correctness  and  pro- 
priety even  in  little  things. 

He  possessed  a  remarkably  kind  and  frater- 
nal spirit.  There  was  nothing  harsh  or  un- 
amiable,  nothing  rigid  or  unrelenting  about 
him.  Though  his  temperament  was  natural- 
ly of  a  mercurial  cast,  and  tliougli  lie  was 
capable  of  kindling  when  unreasonably  op- 
posed, yet  he  very  rarely  overstepped  the 
bounds  of  Christian  meelmess.  In  the  con- 
duct of  the  missionary  enterprise,  his  opinions 
were  sometimes  controverted,  and  his  mea- 
sures were  sometimes  overruled  ;  hntlic  bore 


52  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

the  opposition  with  mildness,  and  cheerfully 
submitted  to  the  judgment  of  his  brethren. 
One  of  his  associates  in  office  has  remarked, 
"  In  all  our  intercourse,  for  ten  years,  I  do 
not  remember  receiving  from  him  a  single 
harsh  or  unkind  word." 

His  piety,  too,  was  eminently  practical.  It 
was  the  business  of  every  day :  and  accom- 
panied him  wherever  he  went,  and  appeared 
in  whatever  he  did.  It  was  not  the  religion 
of  the  imagination,  but  of  cordial  obedience 
to  the  divine  commands.  Nor  was  it  a  fitful 
religion,  but  a  course  so  steady,  that,  to  the 
eye  of  men,  he  rarely  hesitated  and  faltered. 
And  yet  he  had  no  small  degree  of  the  inspi- 
ration of  Christian  feeling.  There  was  an 
order  about  him  that  rebuked  and  put  to 
shame  slothful  and  cold  professors. 

He  was  the  decided  friend  of  revivals  of 
religion ;  and  until  he  became  inmiersed  in 
the  great  subject  of  missions,  labored  much 
and  actively  to  promote  them.  In  the  memo- 
rable revival  of  Yale  Golleo-e  in  the  sunmier 
of  1802,  and  in  the  subsequent  revival  in  the 


MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 


city  of  New-Haven,  in  the  winter  of  1807  and 
1808,  his  fervent  prayers  and  indefatigable 
efforts,  in  season  and  out  of  season,  in  the  city 
and  in  the  adjacent  villages,  will  be  long  and 
gratefully  remembered.  He  was  in  the  habit 
of  frequently  remarking,  and  his  prayers  and 
whole  conduct  were  in  accordance  with  the 
remark,  that  he  saw  no  way  in  which  our 
nation  could  be  saved  from  infidelity  and  ut- 
ter ruin,  except  by  revivals  of  religion,  more 
numerous  and  powerful  than  any  heretofore 
experienced  ;  and  for  the  accomplishment  of 
this  object,  his  whole  hope  was  in  the  effu- 
sions of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

He  was  also  the  firm  friend  of  the  Sabbath. 
The  Sabbath  was  to  him  a  day  of  very  great 
enjoyment.  The  profanation  of  it  he  regarded 
as  a  great  national  sin,  ruinous  to  the  moral 
principles  and  virtue  of  individuals,  the  pa- 
rent of  crimes,  and  certainly  drawing  after  it 
national  judgments,  and  final  national  cor- 
ruption, and  the  extinction  of  our  free  insti- 
tutions. He  took  a  most  active  part  in  the 
measures  adopted  to  prevent  the  transjiorta- 
5* 


54  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

tion  of  the  mail  on  that  sacred  day ;  wrote 
circulars  and  petitions,  and  presented  them 
for  signatures ;  conversed  extensively  with 
members  of  congress  on  this  subject ;  and 
compiled  and  published  the  pamphlet,  con- 
sisting of  extracts  from  memorials  to  congress 
from  different  parts  of  the  country  on  this 
matter,  together  with  an  introduction  and 
conclusion  written  by  himself.  This  was  at- 
tended with  much  labor  and  pecuniary  sacri- 
fice. He  fully  believed  that  the  observance 
of  the  Sabbath  and  other  religious  institutions 
could  be  permanently  and  advantageously 
secured  in  no  other  manner  than  by  the  dif- 
fusion of  religious  knowledge  and  the  enforc- 
ing of  religious  motives. 

The  practical  usefulness  of  his  Christian 
character  consisted  pre-eminently  in  hissimple 
benevolence.  This  was  its  beauty  and  glory. 
While  his  mind  was  awake  to  the  general 
condition  and  prospects  of  the  church,  and 
while  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  her  literary 
institutions  and  the  learning  of  her  ministers, 
and  while  with  an  eagle  eye  he  watched  the 


MKMORY     OF    EVARTS.  55 

operations  of  the  press  and  whatever  might 
influence  the  rehgious  and  moral  opinions 
and  habits  of  the  community,  he  did  not 
overlook  those  silent  and  unostentatious 
deeds  of  mercy  which  every  where  distin- 
guish the  benevolence  of  the  Gospel.  As  he 
was  often  called  to  urge  the  claims  of  Chris- 
tian  liberality,  so  he  felt  them.  His  business 
in  tlie  profession  of  the  law,  during  the  four 
years  he  resided  at  New-Haven,  was  very 
limited,  and  his  income  from  that  source  did 
not  much  exceed  the  mere  expenses  of  his 
office,  the  expenses  of  his  family  being  de- 
frayed principally  by  keeping  boarders.  Yet 
here,  and  under  these  circumstances,  he  be- 
gan that  system  of  giving  in  charity  which 
he  continued  through  life.  He  resolved  to 
give  one  tenth  of  his  income,  however  small. 
His  accounts  on  this  subject  were  kept  with 
scrupulous  accuracy ;  and  as  his  income  in- 
creased, from  his  salary,  and  his  publications, 
and  some  other  sources,  the  proportion  given 
in  charity  was  much  increased.  His  religion 
seemed  to  consist  in  escaping  from  the  do- 


56  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

minion  of  a  selfish  mind,  and  in  seeking,  not 
his  own,  but  the  things  that  are  Christ's. 
Few  men  have  done  more  to  raise  the  stand- 
ard of  Christian  hberahty  in  the  American 
churches  than  he. 

And  with  all  these  excellencies  his  piety 
was  of  the  sweetest  and  most  humble  kind. 
Rarely  was  his  good  evil  spoken  of,  for  a  self- 
complacent  and  self-sufficient  spirit.  From 
his  commanding  talents,  and  from  the  official 
responsibilities  which  devolved  upon  him,  he 
may  be  supposed  to  have  been  proud  and 
domineering ;  but  one  of  the  greatest  charms 
of  his  character  was  his  unfeigned  humility. 
This  he  found  by  frequent  intercourse  with 
the  mercy-seat.  He  was  a  man  of  prayer, 
and  cultivated  the  self-denying  graces  by  in- 
timate fellowship  with  God. 

With  these  characteristics,  it  is  not  sur- 
prising that  his  piety  was  fearless  and  firm. 
He  had  an  uncommon  share  of  original  in- 
dependence of  mind  ;  and  it  was  elevated  and 
fortified  by  grace.  Natural  resolution  and 
firmness,  however  unyielding  and  indomita- 


MEMORY    OF    EVA  UTS.  57 

ble,  become  weak  and  variable  where  they 
are  not  directed  and  sustained  by  the  princi- 
ples and  spirit  of  the  Gospel.  Christian  bold- 
ness aims  invariably  at  truth  and  duty.  It 
is  not  the  boldness  of  Ccesar,  but  of  Christ. 
Heroes  and  statesmen  may  be  men  of  fear- 
less intrepidity,  because  they  have  a  seared 
conscience  and  a  hardened  heart.  Christian 
boldness  cannot  live  without  great  benevo- 
lence of  spirit  and  honesty  of  intention.  No 
wonder  a  good  man  should  be  a  coward, 
when  he  acts  contraiy  to  his  conscience.  So 
intimately  inwoven  are  the  decisions  of  con- 
science with  all  our  impressions  of  obligation, 
that  it  is  only  when  conscience  is  obeyed, 
that  he  can  siunmon  his  strong  and  ardent 
affections,  and,  in  defiance  of  difficulty  and 
danger,  adventure  upon  daring  enterprises 
with  quenchless  zeal  and  perseverance.  With 
an  honest  heart  and  an  honest  conscience,  he 
may  be  "bold  as  a  lion."  His  boldness  then 
deserves  the  name.  It  is  a  paramount  at- 
tachment to  truth  and  diUy;  and  he  has 
nothing  to  fear.     This  is  the  mainspring  of 


58  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

all  Christian  decision.  Duty  is  its  object, 
without  regard  to  smiles  or  frowns  ;  and  duty 
it  will  follow,  through  evil  report  and  good 
report,  to  the  cross  and  the  crown.  This  is 
the  stimulus  to  all  moral  courage.  This  is 
the  spirit  which  is  every  where  cool  and  un- 
disturbed ;  every  where  undaunted  and  pre- 
pared to  do  and  suffer ;  every  where  unmoved, 
however  wild  the  tempest,  and  universal  the 
convulsions.  This  is  the  spirit  which  ren- 
ders the  soul  superior  to  calamity  and  peril, 
and  enables  the  man  in  whose  bosom  it 
dwells,  to  anticipate,  without  dismay,  every 
indication  of  alarm,  however  ominous,  and 
every  possible  issue,  however  fraught  with 
ignominy  and  terror.  This  is  the  spirit  which 
draws  all  the  affections  of  the  soul  toward  its 
object ;  which,  while  it  seizes,  absorbs  :  and 
which  abandons  its  pui-pose  only  when  it 
has  lost  the  power  of  exertion,  or  the  hope  of 
success.  This  was  the  spirit  of  Paul,  before 
Felix  ;  of  Daniel,  before  the  den  of  lions  ;  of 
Luther,  before  the  diet  of  Worms :  of  Knox, 
before  Mary;  and  of  the  Prince  of  Condy, 


MEMOUY    01     tVARTS.  60 

before  Cliurlcs  the  IX.  of  France.  This  is 
the  spirit  which  is  nurtured  by  prayer,  and 
cherished  by  strong  confidence  in  God.  It 
is  fearless  amid  the  moral  earthquake,  be- 
cause God  is  there.  It  is  triumphant  over 
principalities  and  powers,  because  it  is  strong 
in  the  Lord,  mid  in  the  power  of  his  might. 
It  is  happy  amid  scenes  of  danger  and  devas- 
tation, because  the  Eternal  God  is  a  refuge, 
and  underneath  are  the  everlasting  arms. 

Christian  boldness  was  the  prominent  trait 
in  the  character  of  Mr.  Evarts.  If  he  had 
lived  in  the  days  of  persecution,  he  would 
have  been  among  the  first  to  have  gone  to 
the  stake.  "  Be  bold  in  the  service  of  God. 
It  is  the  only  thing  worth  being  bold  for."' 
This  was  the  spirit  of  the  man. 

"  Justum  et  tenacem  propositi  vimm."' 

He  possessed  a  bold  and  undaunted  decision 
of  character.  He  was  often  placed  in  situa- 
tions which  gave  him  a  noble  opportunity  of 
exercising  this  spirit,  and  he  did  it.  \eilher 
flatteries  nor  frowns  could  move  liiiu. 


60  MKMOUy    OF    EVARTS. 

"  WJiere'er  he  went, 
"  This  lesson  still  he  taught,  to  fear  no  ill 
"But  sin,  no  being  but  AImiji;hty  Gtod." 

It  was  not  an  assumed  and  fictitious  inde- 
pendence that  he  possessed ;  it  was  not 
founded  in  caprice  and  passion  ;  nor  put  on 
for  the  sake  of  chffering  from  others ;  but  it 
grew  out  of  a  dehberate,  steadfast  regard  to 
God  and  duty,  and  to  these  he  adhered, 
whatever  might  be  the  consequences.  He 
was  as  much  above  the  opinions  and  customs 
of  the  world,  as  any  man  I  ever  knew.  WTien 
once  he  had  formed  his  purposes,  he  did  not 
stop  to  ask  what  others  might  say  and  do  in 
relation  to  them,  but  vigorously  carried  them 
into  execution,  and  left  observers  to  speculate, 
and  opposers  to  complain  afterward.  I  have 
known  him,  especially  about  the  time  he  be- 
gan the  world,  to  suifer  severely,  both  in  his 
reputation  and  property,  from  his  unbending 
rectitude.  But  nothing  would  induce  him  to 
make  a  compromise  with  conscience.  The 
unexpected  pressure  of  difficulty  may  have 
disturbed  him  for  a  moment,  but  it  was  only 


MEMORV    OF    EVART3.  61 

(0  inspirit  him  with  fresh  resohition  and 
fortitude.  Who  tliat  intimately  knew  him. 
cannot  look  back  upon  a  multitude  of  inci- 
dents in  his  history,  in  which  his  conduct 
seemed  to  say,  "Be  bold  in  the  service  of 
God :  it  is  the  only  thing  worth  being  bold 
for !"  When  his  mind  had  once  taken  a  strong 
view  of  the  great  object  he  was  pursuing,  it 
was  in  vain  to  embarrass  and  resist  him,  un- 
l(^ss  you  meant  to  stimulate  him  to  growing 
ardor  and  activity. 

Few  men  were  so  well  able  to  sustain  this 
determined  character,  because  few  possessed 
his  judgment  and  discrimination,  and  his  re- 
inarkabU;  balance  of  mind.  Men  there  are 
Iff  unbending  integrity  and  firmness,  but  they 
have  little  judgment  to  direct  and  govern 
them.  Right  or  wrong,  wise  or  unwise,  they 
will  not  be  diverted  from  their  designs.  But 
(his  is  not  Christian  boldness,  but  unchristian 
obstinacy.  There  was  nothing  from  which 
Mr.  Evarts  was  at  a  greater  remov^e  than  this. 
Though  he  often  formed  very  important  de- 
cisions almost  intuitively,  he  was,  to  a  re- 
0 


62  MLMOKV    OF    EVARTSv 

markable  degree,  freed  from  imprudence  and 
rashness.  Very  rarely,  if  ever,  did  he  adhere 
to  his  purposes  at  the  expense  of  practical 
wisdom.  It  was  his  characteristic  discretion, 
as  well  as  his  zeal  and  intrepidity,  that  so 
sensibly  promoted  his  usefulness,  and  secured 
for  him  the  confidence  and  co-operation  of 
the  churches,  in  the  great  enterprise  to  which 
his  life  was  so  faithfully  and  successfully 
devoted. 

It  was  a  circumstance  of  deep  interest  to 
the  pagan  world,  that  such  a  man  as  our  de- 
ceased friend  was  called  to  the  executive 
department  of  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  Foreign  Missions.  When  the 
enterprise  of  foreign  missions  was  set  on  foot 
by  the  churches  of  Massachusetts,  he  was 
engaged  in  the  profession  of  the  law.  in  a 
neighboring  state.  But  he  was  by  no  means 
an  indifferent  observer  of  this  novel  under- 
taking. The  missionary  cause  was  one  sin- 
gularly adapted  to  his  expansive  and  bene- 
volent views.  And  it  is  in  his  hig-h  and  in- 
timate  relation  to  this  cause,  that  his  friends 


MEMORY    OF    EVARTS.  63 

and  the  friends  of  Zion  love  chiefly  to  regard 
him.     He  was  useful  in  other  spheres,  and  in 
some  greatly  useful.    As  a  scholar,  as  a  jurist, 
as  an  editor,  as  the  patron  of  all  Christian 
and  benevolent  institutions,  as  an  abettor  of 
the  cause  of  temperance,  as  an  advocate  for 
the  Christian  sabbath,  and  the  fearless  de- 
fender of  the  rights  of  the  Indians,  he  was 
the  benefactor  of  his  country.    But  the  cause 
of  missions  to  the  heathen  was  the   great 
sphere  of  his  usefulness.     For  this  he  was 
eminently  fitted  by  his  talents,  his  scholar- 
ship,  his    untiring   activity,   his    Christian 
character,  and  his   acquaintance  with  men 
and  the  world.      And  his  mind  and  heart 
seem  to  have  received  a  new  impulse,  and 
to  have  been  enlarged  and  transformed,  by 
coming   in   contact  with   this  great   object. 
Perhaps  there  is  not  a  finer  example  of  the 
influence  of  benevolent  operations  upon  the 
mind  and  heart  than  he  himself  presents ; 
and  there  is  scarcely  a  finer  example  of  the 
amount  of  good  which  can  be  accomplished 
by  one  man  of  humble  origin,  when  his  ef- 


64  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

forts  are  directed  toward  an  object  adapted  to 
his  capacity,  and  worthy  of  all  his  energy 
and  ardor. 

The  amount  of  business  at  the  missionaiy 
rooms  is  much  greater  than  is  generally 
known,  even  by  the  friends  of  missions. 
The  number  of  letters  there  prepared,  many 
of  them  long  and  requiring  much  thought, 
exceeds  tiventy-five  hundred  a  year.  On  the 
secretaries  of  that  office  devolves  all  the  cor- 
respondence of  the  board,  foreign  and  do- 
mestic, except  what  relates  immediately  to 
the  treasury.  On  them  also  devolves  the 
preparation  of  the  amiual  report,  of  mission- 
ary papers,  instructions  to  missionaries,  and 
other  public  documents ;  the  editing  of  the 
Missionary  Herald,  the  general  supermtend- 
ence  of  the  missions,  the  obtaining  and 
directing  of  missionaries  and  agents,  the  col- 
lection of  information  which  shall  lead  to  the 
establishment  of  new  missions  and  the  en- 
largement of  those  already  established  ;  the 
preparation  of  business  for  the  prudential 
committee,  the  arrangements  for  the  meetings 


MEMORY    OF    EVAUTS  65 

of  auxiliaries,  together  with  the  deputations 
to  attend  them ;  and  also  a  very  extensive 
and  personal  intercourse  with  the  friends  of 
missions  from  all  parts  of  the  country.  No 
one  man  could  possibly  attend  minutely  to 
this  multiforious  concern.  For  several  years 
Mr.  Evarts  had  little  to  do  in  conducting  the 
Missionary  Herald.  Much  of  the  correspon- 
dence, foreign  and  domestic,  was  also  written 
by  his  associates.  He  was  also  occasionally 
absent  from  Boston,  for  considerable  periods 
of  time,  when  all  the  business  of  the  rooms 
devolved  on  his  associates.  His  absences 
always  had  some  reference  however  to  the 
missionary  cause,  and  were  laboriously  de- 
voted to  the  formation  of  auxiliary  societies, 
to  tlie  inspection  of  the  missionary  station.s, 
and  to  modify,  if  possible,  the  measures  which 
he  feared  the  national  government  might 
pursue  in  relation  to  the  Indians.  Here,  per- 
haps, it  may  be  proper  to  remark,  that  it  may 
be  doubted  whether  the  necessity  of  official 
visits  to  the  missions  is  well  understood  by 
the  public,  or  their  utility  appreciated.  The 
6* 


66  MEMOnV    OF    EVARTS. 

saving  of  money,  of  labor,  of  time  in  the  pro- 
secution of  the  missions,  and  the  promotion 
of  zeal  in  the  missionaries,  have  almost  in- 
variably, perhaps  always,  been  of  far  greater 
value  than  the  expense  of  the  visit.  Lideed, 
such  visitations,  occasionally  made,  are  in- 
dispensable, cost  what  they  may.  And  with 
what  fidelity,  and  advantage,  and  rigid  econ- 
omy, this  service  was  performed  by  Mr. 
Evarts,  is  well  understood  by  the  prudential 
committee  of  the  board. 

The  first  ten  annual  reports  of  the  com- 
mittee were  written  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Worces- 
ter ;  the  last  ten  by  Mr.  Evarts.  The  con- 
clusion of  the  report  in  1826,  and  of  the  last 
in  1830,  are  among  his  most  eloquent  pro- 
ductions, especially  the  last.  Few  productions 
do  ofreater  honor  to  the  American  character. 
It  deserves  to  be  noticed,  that  each  of  these 
secretaries  should  have  written  just  ten  re- 
ports. Mr.  Evarts  himself  noticed  this  circum- 
stance, and  dwelt  upon  it,  with  a  significant 
foreboding,  in  a  conversation  with  one  of  his 
associates,  and  desired  him  to  remember  the 


MEMORY    OF    EVARTS.  67 

Circumstance  if  he  should  be  called  to  his  rest 
before  another  annual  meeting  of  the  board. 
The  instructions  to  missionaries  on  the  point 
of  going  into  the  field,  were  also  generally 
written  by  Mr.  Evarts.  His  untiring  dili- 
gence and  energy  of  action  during  the  last 
ten  years  of  his  life,  and  while  susttiining  the 
office  of  secretary  of  the  board,  were  beyond 
all  praise.  It  was  an  eventful  period  of  his 
life,  fruitful  in  benevolent  results,  and  has 
left  its  indelible  impression  on  the  heathen 
world. 

There  is  one  very  delightful  feature  in  his 
character  developed  in  the  performance  of 
his  official  duties.  He  appeared  to  feel  deeply, 
and  was  anxious  that  his  associates  should 
feel  their  entire  insufficiency  for  the  enter- 
prise in  which  tliey  were  embarked,  without 
divine  aid.  It  was  his  custom  for  years,  with 
some  interruptions,  after  the  labors  of  the 
week  were  ended,  to  meet  his  associates  at 
liis  own  house,  for  the  purpose  of  reviewing 
the  business  of  the  week  past,  and  anticipating 
tliat  of  the  week  to  come ;  and  in  general  of 


68  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

spending  an  hour  in  the  evening  in  conver- 
sation and  prayer,  with  reference  to  their 
official  duties.  His  sohcitude  for  the  proper 
discharge  of  his  duty  was  sometimes  very 
intense ;  and  so  was  his  sohcitude  for  the 
missionaries ;  but  nothing  occasioned  him  so 
much  sohcitude  as  the  backwardness  of  the 
churches  to  furnish  pecuniary  means  for 
sending  the  Gospel  to  the  heathen. 

But  the  days  of  his  toil  and  solicitude  are 
over.  He  rests  now.  He  speaks  to  us  from 
the  grave ;  or  rather  from  those  high  worlds 
of  light  and  joy.  I  seem  to  hear  him  say  to 
the  friends  of  missions  in  this  assembly  and 
in  this  land — "  Remember  the  nations  that 
know  not  God.  Sectional  distinctions,  party 
interests,  local  enterprises,  wealth,  fame, 
pleasure — all,  all  must  be  forgotten  in  the 
great,  the  common  enterprise  of  converting 
the  iDorld.  There  is  a  beauty  and  sublimity 
in  this  mighty  object,  that  transcend  all  the 
beautiful  and  sublime  of  the  moral  creation. 
"When  the  elements  shall  melt  Avith  fervent 
heat;  when  the  earth  with  all  its  magnifi- 


MEMORY   OF    EVARTS.  69 

<cence  shall  be  wrapt  in  flame  ;  this  glorious 
cause  will  but  just  have  begun  to  commend 
itself  to  the  intelligent  universe.  When  the 
ransomed  of  the  Lord  shall  return  with  songs 
and  everlasting  joy  upon  their  head ;  when 
the  gates  of  perpetual  praise  shall  be  opened 
to  the  redeemed  from  every  nation,  and  kin- 
dred, and  tongue,  under  heaven;  then,  and 
not  till  then,  will  it  be  fully  seen,  that  it  is  just 
,as  important  that  the  Gospel  be  carried  to  the 
heathen,  as  that  the  heathen  should  be  saved. 
Tremble  not  for  the  niissionaiy  cause.  God 
will  protect  it  when  all  the  nations  die.  It  is 
by  his  almighty  power  and  grace  that  it  has 
been  sustained,  and  by  the  same  energy  it 
will  be  still  sustained."  Let  the  friends  of 
missions  listen  to  this  timely  counsel.  Though 
the  earth  be  removed,  and  the  mountains  be 
carried  into  the  midst  of  the  sea,  God  is  a  re- 
fuge for  us,  and  we  need  not  fear.  Evarts 
may  be  silent  and  forgotten  in  the  grave;  but 
the  Lord  liveth,  and  blessed  be  our  Rock, 
and  let  the  God  of  our  salvation  be  exalted ! 
Changes  in  men  and  events  there  will  be ; 


70  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS. 

but  there  is  none  in  God.  Be  it  ours  to  in- 
crease our  faith,  to  enlarge  our  plans  of  bene- 
volence, to  redouble  our  efforts — for  the  diffii- 
sion  of  the  Gospel  among  all  nations — for  the 
destruction  of  every  false  system  of  religion — 
for  the  conversion  of  the  world — and  the  God 
of  heaven  will  take  care  of  the  missionary  en- 
terprise. The  great  work  of  turning  the  world 
from  Satan  unto  God  is  begun,  and  it  shall  be 
accomplished ;  for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath 
spoken  it.  Let  there  be  no  division  in  our 
counsels  and  no  relaxation  of  our  efforts,  and 
the  cause  will  prosper  in  our  hands  and 
through  our  unworthy  instrumentality.  Let 
not  difficulties  discourage  us ;  let  not  re- 
proaches provoke  us ;  let  not  disappointments 
depress  us. — "  Be  bold  in  the  service  of  God. 
It  is  the  only  thing"  worth  being  bold  forP 
Difficulty  and  peril  there  are  in  the  path  of 
duty,  but  be  bold  for  Christ.  Every  where 
prove  yourselves  the  uncompromising  friends 
of  truth  and  righteousness.  If  fiery  trials 
await  you,  they  are  designed  to  test  your  in- 
tegrity, and  prove  your  patience  and  submis- 


iMEMORV    OF    KVARIS.  71 

sion.  It  is  always  safe  to  be  bold  and  intrepid 
in  duty.  Do  not  be  afraid.  '-Who  is  he  that 
\vill  harm  you,  if  ye  be  followers  of  that 
which  is  good  J  They  that  trust  in  the  Lord 
sliall  be  as  Mount  Zion,  that  shall  not  be  re- 
moved, but  abideth  for  ever.  Fear  not  them 
which  kill  the  body,  and  after  that  have  no 
more  that  they  can  do ;  but  fear  Him,  \vho, 
after  he  hath  killed,  hath  power  to  destroy 
both  soul  and  body  in  hell :  yea,  I  say  unto 
you,  fear  him."  In  his  cause  you  can  afford 
to  sufier.  He  could  afford  it,  and  so  can  you. 
Sacrifices  for  Christ  are  infinite  and  eternal 
gain. 

And  to  every  man  in  this  dying  assembly, 
I  seem  to  liear  him  say,  and  with  all  the  si- 
lent eloquence  and  persuasion  of  the  grave, 
'•  Think  of  eternity  and  heaven.  Think  of 
the  orlorious  character  and  everlasting  career 
of  the  righteous,  and  of  the  debased  and  hope- 
less character  and  miserable  end  of  the  wick- 
ed." Looking  out  from  that  immeasurable 
eternity,  he  proclaims,  '•  The  world  is  empti- 
ness and  illusion.  Life  is  frail  and  perishing. 


72  MEMORY    OF    EVARTS, 

Soon  you  will  be  numbered  with  the  congre' 
gation  of  the  dead.  Li  a  little  while  you  will 
mingle  with  the  amazing  multitude  that  shall 
stand  up  before  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ, 
In  a  little  while,  you  will  be  acquitted  or  con- 
demned ;  you  will  rise  to  heaven,  or  sink  to 
hell."  Such  are  the  issues  of  your  brief  and 
uncertain  probation.  Never  were  they  more 
palpable,  and  never  did  they  assume  greater 
magnitude  and  importance,  than  at  such  a 
day  as  this.  God  is  arising  to  shake  terribly 
the  earth.  His  fan  is  in  his  hand.  He  is 
rapidly  preparing  all  things  for  the  final  har- 
vest. His  sword  is  upon  his  thigh,  and  he  is 
gone  forth,  conquering  and  to  conquer.  And 
who  will  enlist  under  his  banner?  Who 
asks  no  better  portion,  than  to  be  identified 
with  his  successes  and  triumphs  1  Who  will 
bind  his  eternal  destiny  to  the  wheels  of  his 
chariot,  and  rise  or  fall  with  the  conquests  or 
defeat  of  his  empire  ?  Wlio  is  on  the  Lord's 
side  ?  In  this  day  of  conflict,  who  is  for  Chris! 
and  his  cause  ?  In  this  day  of  Avonders.  who 
will  stand  forth  for  the  millenium  and  for 
heaven  ? 


MEMORY  OF  CORNELIUS. 


In  forming  an  estimate  of  the  character  of 
an  individual,  there  are  always  two  classes  of 
influence  to  be  taken  into  the  account.  In 
tlie  first  place,  the  providence  and  spirit  of 
God  are  to  be  distinctly  recognized.  Men  are 
not  unfrequently  placed  in  such  circumstances 
that  they  can  hardly  avoid  acting  a  distin- 
guished part.  They  came  into  existence  at 
tliat  very  moment  when  the  world  was  ripe 
for  change.  They  had  only  to  fall  in  with  a 
current  which  had  received  its  direction  long 
before  they  were  born.  Or,  perhaps,  some 
slight  incident  occurred  in  the  early  part  of 
their  history,  which  was  entirely  out  of  the 
range  of  their  contrivance,  but  which  essen- 
tially modified  their  whole  subsc(juent  cours(\ 
The  fathers  of  New-England,  though  endued 
with  almost  prophetic  sagacity,  were,  notwith- 
7 


74  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIl/S'. 

Standing,  deeply  indebted  to  the  providence 
of  God.  The  persecutions  wliich  they  suf- 
fered in  England  compelled  them  to  leave  it. 
A  spirit  of  adventure  and  foreign  discovery 
had  been,  for  several  years,  abroad  in  Europe. 
Coming  from  a  small  island,  over  a  wide  ocean, 
and  landing  on  a  great  continent,  they  would 
naturally  feel  an  enlargement  of  soul.  The 
idea  must  have  been  forced  upon  their  minds, 
that  they  were  to  be  the  parents  of  a  new 
race,  the  patriarchs  of  a  new  continent.  They 
were  also  frequently  the  subjects  of  remark- 
able and  entirely  unforeseen  deliverances. 

It  is  important  to  look  upon  the  history  and 
character  of  men  in  this  aspect.  A  main  part 
of  our  object  in  reading  biography,  should  be 
to  trace  the  operations  of  the  providence  of 
God.  If  we  lose  sight  of  that,  we  shall  cer- 
tainly be  in  danger  of  paying  idolatry  to  a 
few  distinguished  names.  In  Washington's 
character  there  was  a  singularly  happy  com- 
bination of  qualities,  which  were  in  part  the 
result  of  his  o^\^l  effort  and  self-discipline. 
Still,  God  gave  to  Washington    powers  of 


MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS,  75 

body  »ind  of  mind  altogether  unusual,  and 
placed  him  in  circumstances  where  those 
powers  were  nurtured  and  developed. 

In  the  second  place,  however,  men  are  free 
agents.  Almost  unbounded  scope  is  given 
to  them  for  industry,  energy,  and  constant 
acquisition.  There  is  a  very  great  disparity 
anions:  individuals  in  the  same  profession, 
with  equal  original  powers  and  with  the 
same  opportunities,  because  one  will  make 
those  efforts  which  another  refuses  or  neglects 
to  mak'e.  God  does  not  give  wisdom  to  the 
thoughtless,  nor  energy  to  the  idle.  He  dis- 
penses his  favors  providently,  as  well  as  boun- 
tifully. It  is  a  most  interostinir  fact  in  the  di- 
vine administration,  that  the  industrious  and 
observant  man  should  meet  with  that  favor- 
able conjunction  of  circumstances  on  which 
success  often  de[)cnds.  There  are  placed  be- 
fore us,  not  only  general  promises  of  aid,  but 
the  strong  probability  that  wesliall  meet  some 
of  those  unforeseen  events  which  will  enable 
us  to  confer  eminent  benefits  on  mankind. 
It  was  the  patient  and  thoughtful  Newton  to 


76  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS. 

whom  was  revealed  the  beautiful  order  of 
these  material  heavens.  It  is  the  laborious 
experimentalist  who  effects  the  most  impor- 
tant discoveries  in  any  of  the  sciences.  The 
celebrated  inventions  in  the  arts  were  the  pro- 
duct of  intense  and  long-continued  thought. 
So  it  is  in  the  spiritual  world.  We  do  not  at- 
tain to  distinguished  usefulness  by  accident 
or  by  miracle.  Our  hearts  must  be  divested 
of  pride  and  self-sufficiency,  and  our  hands 
must  be  ready  for  effort,  before  we  can  dis- 
cover and  take  advantage  of  the  openings  in 
the  providence  of  God. 

In  order,  therefore,  to  give  a  consistent  view 
of  any  man's  character,  we  must  keep  in  mind 
the  two  classes  of  facts  and  influences  to  which 
I  have  adverted.  Mr.  Cornelius  was,  in 
some  respects,  a  self-educated  man.  If  he 
had  original  force  of  character,  he  was  never 
accustomed  to  put  any  blind  dependence  up- 
on it.  He  knew  what  his  powers  for  doing 
good  were,  and  how  they  might  be  strength- 
ened and  perfected.  Through  his  whole  pub- 
lic life  he  manifested  uncommon  industiy, 


MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS  // 

and  a  methodical  and  intelligent  application 
to  his  various  duties.  At  the  same  time  it 
cannot  be  denied  that  he  was  indebted  to  ex- 
traneous influence,  and  to  the  arrangements 
of  that  Power  wlio  rnleth  over  all.  In  the 
following  remarks  it  is  proposed  briefly  to 
<;onsider  his  character  and  public  life,  under 
both  the  aspects  which  have  been  mentioned. 
One  of  the  most  striking  attitudes  in  Avhich 
Mr.  Cornelius  is  presented  lo  our  minds,  has 
respect  to  his  bodily  organization.  While 
this  was  doubtless  affected  in  various  ways, 
by  his  regimen,  and  his  attention  to  the  rules 
of  exercise  and  temperance,  yet  it  was  to  be 
regarded  pre-eminently  as  a  gift  of  the  Crea- 
tor— and  it  was  a  gift  of  surpassing  beauty  and 
proportion.  It  is  not  transgressing  the  bounds 
of  truth  to  say,  that  he  had  all  the  qualities 
which  compose  a  perfect  human  form.  If, 
when  gazing  upon  that  form,  an  emotion  of 
envy  has  arisen  in  our  h»>arts.  tlie  emotion  has 
been  checked  by  the  tliou^-ht  that  such  powers 
were  accompanied  with  corresponding  respon- 
sibilities, and  that  a  failure  fully  to  employ 


78  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS. 

them  in  the  service  of  their  Creator  would  be 
attended  with  great  guilt.  All  the  parts  of  his 
frame  were,  if  we  maysoexpress  it,  in  keeping. 
The  effect  of  one  feature  or  limb  was  not  height- 
ened by  contrast  with  the  deformity  of  another. 
On  the  contrary,  each  was  rendered  more  at- 
tractive by  being  in  harmony  with  others.  A 
remarkable  trait  in  his  personal  appearance, 
was  the  variety  and  quick  succession  of  emo- 
tions which  he  exhibited  through  the  medium 
of  his  countenance.  The  operations  of  his 
mind  were  in  an  extraordinary  degree  visible 
through  that  natural  mirror.  We  have  seen 
feelings  of  grief,  of  affectionate  confidence, 
of  intense  solicitude,  and  of  exulting  hope, 
depicted  on  his  features  with  such  strength 
and  vividness  as  to  mock  all  delineation  either 
by  pen  or  pencil.  It  was  like  the  crossing 
and  recrossing  of  light  and  shade  over  a  har- 
vest field.  This  circumstance  helped  him  to 
retain  command  of  the  eye  and  the  attention, 
when  addressing  a  public  audience.  It  was 
a  passport  to  the  hearts  of  men.  The  thoughts 
and  feelings  which  were  communicated  by 


MEMORY    or    CORNELIUS.  l^ 

liis  language,  were  beaming  and  burning  on 
every  feature.  The  lines  and  colors  of  his 
countenance  were  the  handmaids  and  inter- 
preters, and  in  many  cases,  the  harbingers  of 
what  fell  from  his  lips.  The  structure  of  his 
frame,  and  his  general  aspect,  was  that  of 
dignity.  He  was  formed  to  be  a  leader  in  any 
enterprize  in  which  he  might  be  engaged. 
His  erect  position  and  majestic  frame  im- 
pressed every  beholder.  It  won  the  esteem 
of  those  who  had  no  sympathy  with  his  re- 
ligious opinions.  It  enabled  him  to  declare 
the  truth  of  God,  in  the  presence  of  great  men, 
without  hesitation  and  without  detriment  to 
his  cause.  It  also  awakened  a  strong  interest 
in  his  behalf  in  the  most  unenlightened  and 
depressed  classes  of  society  with  which  he 
came  in  contact.  Accompanying  and  enforc- 
mg  all  the  preceding  qualities,  was  his  voice. 
It  was  one  of  uncommon  clearness  and  com- 
pass. It  could  reach  the  most  distant  auditor 
-  with  perfect  distinctness,  and  fill  every  cor- 
ner and  niche  of  our  largest  edifices.  It  had 
not,  perhaps,  the  delicacy  and  llexibiHty  of 


80  MEMORY    or    CORNELIUS 

tone  which  some  voices  possess  ;  still  it  was 
not  deficient  in  these  qualities.  He  produced 
the  most  powerful  effects  upon  our  feelings 
by  the  milder  and  lower  intonations.  There 
was  occasionally  asubduing tenderness,  which 
was  in  strong  and  delightful  contrast  with 
some  preceding  exhibition  of  overwhelming 
power.  His  clear  and  sonorous  voice  was  to 
him,  as  a  public  agent,  a  powerful  auxiliary. 
Very  few  individuals  who  have  lived  in  this 
country,  have  been  called  to  address  au- 
diences more  numerous,  or  convened  in  edi- 
fices more  diverse  in  form  and  size. 

The  character  of  his  father  was  another 
circumstance  worthy  of  distinct  considera- 
tion. This  excellent  man  had  passed  through 
scenes  which  had  imparted  to  him  great 
energy  and  firmness.  Early  in  life  he  had 
engaged  in  the  service  of  his  country,  without 
the  cordial  concurrence  of  his  family  friends. 
He  escaped  from  a  long  and  severe  imprison- 
ment in  a  British  jail,  by  his  boldness  and  in- 
genuity. He  maintained,  during  the  latter 
period  of  his  military  career,  a  consistent  re- 


MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS.  01 

ligious  profession,  and  to  the  close  of  a  long 
life  he  upheld  the  institutions  of  the  Gospel, 
in  the  face  of  much  discouragement  and  op- 
position. This  determined  character  he  im- 
pressed upon  his  son.  Perhaps  the  considera- 
tion that  he  was  an  07iZy  son,  led  him  to  guard 
more  carefully  against  the  dangers  by  which 
a  father  in  such  circumstances  is  surround- 
ed. At  all  events,  the  course  of  discipline 
which  he  adopted  was  manly  and  decisive, 
and  the  effect  on  the  character  of  the  youthful 
subject  was  great  and  salutary.  It  imparted 
a  vigor  and  determination  to  his  mind  and 
whole  character  which  never  forsook  him. 

In  this  connection,  it  is  important  to  dwell, 
for  a  moment,  upon  a  fact  in  his  religious 
history.  The  remark  has  been  sometimes 
made,  that  when  God  intends  to  employ  an 
individual  in  a  sphere  of  distinguished  use- 
fulness, he  so  orders  it  that  his  conversion  is 
marked  and  unequivocal.  This  assertion  is 
not  meant  to  imply  that  there  must  be,  in  all 
cases,  very  deep  convictions  of  sin,  or  corre- 
sponding emotions  of  joy,  or  an  inmiediately 


82  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS. 

decisive  alteration  of  any  kind.  The  change 
in  Baxter,  Buchanan,  and  Martyn  was  so 
gradual,  that  the  time  when  it  commenced 
was  not  obvious  to  themselves  or  to  others. 
At  length,  however,  the  CA'idence  that  they 
were  Christians  was  to  themselves  distinct 
and  full.  Martyn  said  that  he  could  no  more 
question  it  than  he  could  his  own  existence. 
The  different  manner  and  circumstances  of 
this  great  change  must  exert  a  decided  in- 
fluence on  the  whole  subsequent  life.  Per- 
severing effort  for  the  salvation  of  others,  is 
not  consistent  with  prevailing  doubts  in  re- 
gard to  one's  own  safety.  What  would  a  sol- 
dier be  worth  in  the  day  of  battle,  if  he  followed 
his  commander  with  hesitating  and  doubtful 
steps?  A  person  must  be  rejoicing  in  hope,  and 
in  some  measure  confident  of  his  high  calling, 
before  he  can  do  good  to  all  men  as  he  has 
opportunity.  It  is  of  great  importance,  there- 
fore, that  a  Christian  should  commence  his 
course  with  as  much  impetus  as  possible  from 
the  circumstances  of  his  own  conversion. 
The   very  recollection   of  the   '•  marvelous 


MEMORY    OF    COKXliLlL'S.  83 

change"  will  inspire  him  with  new  ardor  in 
his  pathway  to  heaven.  With  this  sicrnal  ad- 
vantage did  Mr.  Cornelius  enter  upon  his  re- 
ligious course.  His  conviction  of  sin  was  un- 
conmionly  deep  and  thorougli.  and  his  first 
exercise  of  faith  in  the  Savior  cordial  and 
soul-transforming.  The  reality  of  the  change 
was  clear  to  his  o^\'Tl  mind  as  well  as  to  those 
of  others.  A  consciousness  of  love  to  Christ 
diffused  a  sweet  serenity  through  his  soul, 
and  armed  him  with  courage  for  the  day  of 
conflict.  He  often  referred  to  this  period  as 
emphatically  a  season  of  grace  and  peace — a 
foretaste  of  never-ending;  joy.  Darkness  and 
doul)t,  indeed,  occa.sionally  visited  his  soul 
within  a  short  time  after  his  conversion,  but 
they  only  made  the  recovered  beams  of  the 
Sun  of  Righteousness  more  pleasant  and  vivi- 
fying. He  possessed  in  some  good  measure 
the  feelings  of  Paul.  wIumi  he  deduces  from 
his  confident  expectation  of  eternal  life  the 
snblime  inference,  wiiF.nF.FORK  we  i^.vhou. 

Mr.  Cornoliiis  entered  on  his  religious  life 
at  a  period  when  many  circumstances  must 


84  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS. 

have  combined  to  produce  a  strong  impres- 
sion on  a  heart  so  susceptible  as  his.  It  was 
an  era  in  the  history  of  Christianity.  The 
churches  of  Christ  were  just  beginning  to 
reaUze  the  great  fact  that  their  rehgion  is  to 
be  propagated  among  all  nations.  The  first 
company  of  missionaries  had  just  departed  to 
carry  the  Gospel  to  India.  Mills  had  com- 
menced his  career  of  seraphic  benevolence. 
Our  Western  States  were  becoming  known 
as,  in  many  parts,  scenes  of  moral  desolation. 
An  unaccustomed  interest  was  awakened  in 
behalf  of  the  children  of  Africa.  The  glow 
and  freshness  of  youth  was  upon  every  thing 
which  had  respect  to  the  propagation  of  Chris- 
tianity at  home  and  abroad.  There  had  been 
no  period  like  it  since  the  reformation.  The 
preceding  years  of  the  nineteenth  century 
were,  comparatively,  a  season  of  apathy.  At 
the  present  time,  the  subject  of  the  evangeli- 
zation of  the  world  has  become,  to  some  ex- 
tent, a  matter  of  sober  calculation,  and  of 
fixed  principle.  The  fact,  therefore,  that  Mr. 
Cornelius  entered  upon  the  Christian  life  at 


MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS.  So 

the  time  in  which  he  did,  shaped,  iii  no  in- 
considerable degree,  his  whole  future  destiny. 
It  gave  a  tenderness  to  his  feelings,  and  an  en- 
largement tohisviews,  which  wouldhave  been 
attained,  probably,  in  no  other  circumstances.* 
His  familiar  acquaintance  with  a  few  such 
men  as  Mr.  Evarts  and  Dr.  Worcester,  it  is 
generally  supposed,  contributed,  in  no  slight 
degree,  to  the  formation  of  his  character. 
Frequently  as  he  enjoyed  such  opportunities, 
and  hiirhly  as  he  valued  them,  they  could 
hardly  fail  to  leave  a  deep  impression  on  his 
inquisitive  mind  and  susceptible  heart.  We 
are  inclined  to  believe,  however,  that  the  in- 
tercourse which  he  enjoyed  with  those  vene- 
rated men,  though  highly  important,  did  not 
essentially  modify  his  character.  He  learned 
from  them,  indeed,  many  lessons  of  practical 
wisdom.  They  corrected  the  decisions  of  his 
inexperienced  youth,  and  helped  him  to  con- 
trol his  feelings,  by  giving  additional  clear- 
ness to  his  conscience,  and  strength  to  his 

*  He  read^at  this  lime,  with  singular  iltlijilil  ai.d 
profit,  ihe  Memoir  ofMrr.  Harriot  Newell. 
8 


86  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS. 

judgment.  At  the  feet  of  Dr.  Worcester, 
especially,  he  always  delighted  to  sit,  and 
listen  to  the  words  of  wisdom  which  dropped 
as  honey  from  his  lips.  Yet  his  character,  as 
to  all  his  main  features,  was  formed  before 
his  acquaintance  with  the  individuals  in 
question.  He  never  manifested  a  sounder 
judgment,  or  a  more  enlightened  zeal,  than 
on  his  mission  to  the  Indians,  when  hardly 
twenty-two  years  old.  That  agency  brought 
him  into  connection  with  men  high  in  civil 
life,  yet  he  acquitted  himself  of  all  his  diffi- 
cult undertakings  with  uncommon  fidelity 
and  prudence.  His  resources  were  developed 
very  early  in  life.  He  did  not  need  that  pro- 
tracted experience  which  many  others  must 
acquire  before  their  powers  can  be  safely, 
and  to  the  highest  _degree,  employed.  The 
effect  of  his  intercourse  with  more  mature 
minds,  consisted  in  giving  a  uniformity  to  his 
character,  and  in  correcting  his  judgment  in 
the  lesser  circumstances  and  occasions  of  life. 
We  are  now  prepared  to  consider  some  of 
the  traits  in  his  character,  in  the  formation 


Mf,MOR\     OF    CljRXKLIUS  87 

and  culture  of  which  he  exerted  a  more  di- 
rect agency  himself. 

The  versatility  of  his  powers  was  uncom- 
mon. There  are  very  few  species  of  labor,  in- 
tellectual or  physical,  in  which  he  would  not 
have  excelled,  had  he  pleased  to  have  given 
his  attention  to  them.  He  could  turn  instantly 
from  one  employment  to  another.  He  had 
that  ready  address,  that  self-possession,  at- 
tractive personal  appearance,  acquaintance 
with  the  modes  of  iritercourse  in  society,  firm 
muscular  power,  excitableness  of  emotion, 
which  qualified  him  to  discharge,  with  entire 
success,  a  great  variety  of  complicated  duties. 
He  did  not  possess,  as  he  was  ever  ready  to 
acknowledge,  very  copious  stores  of  science 
and  literature.  Still,  he  had  the  mental  ability 
— the  stamina  of  a  scholar — power  of  labo- 
rious investigation — of  seizing  upon  funda- 
mental principles — of  subjecting  a  topic  to 
logical  analysis  and  generalization.  Had  he 
seen  fit  to  accept  of  his  appointment  of  The- 
ological Professor  at  one  of  our  more  im- 
portant colleges,  he  would,  doubtless,  have 


88  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS. 

qualified  himself  to  have  discharged  its  du- 
ties with  eminent  ability.  On  one  occasion 
he  had  opportunity  to  show  his  mental  re- 
sources on  the  field  of  controversy ;  with  what 
success  need  not  here  be  mentioned.  His  ser- 
mon on  the  Trinity  is  a  happy  specimen  of 
clear  and  simple  illustration,  and  of  condens- 
ed thouo;ht,  on  a  subject  which  has  been  fre- 
quently involved  in  unnecessary  darkness. 
His  executive  powers  were  so  remarkable, 
that  it  has  been  sometimes  supposed  that  he 
resorted  to  his  study  with  strong  reluctance. 
But  the  fact  was  the  reverse.  A  mind  so  in- 
telligent and  inquisitive  was  certainly  capa- 
ble of  acquiring  habits  of  abstraction,  and  of 
severe  and  protracted  thought. 

The  entire  harmony  of  his  character  was 
as  remarkable  as  the  versatility  of  his  powers. 
He  was  a  faithful  and  an  affectionate  friend, 
a  valuable  counsellor,  lovely  and  interesting 
in  all  his  social  relations,  ready  to  sympathize 
in  every  form  of  human  calamity,  and  to  take 
a  real  and  eifective  interest  in  the  concerns  of 
others.    He  rejoiced  in  the  extension  of  civil 


MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS.  89 

liberty  and  the  rights  of  man.  He  was  an 
impressive  preacher  of  the  doctrines  of  the 
cross,  and  an  eloquent  advocate  of  e very- 
philanthropic  entcrprize.  At  home  or  abroad, 
among  strangers  or  friends,  in  the  great  con- 
gregation, or  on  the  solitary  journey,  there 
was  a  delightful  consistency  of  feeling  and 
conduct. 

But  it  may  be  well  to  consider  more  at 
length,  some  of  the  qualities  of  his  character 
which  have  just  been  enumerated.  For  a  pro- 
fessional man,  his  acquaintance  with  the  af- 
fairs of  common  life  and  business  was  un- 
commonly extensive  and  accurate.  He  ad- 
hered to  the  maxim,  that  what  was  worth 
doing  at  all,  was  worth  doing  well.  He  con- 
ducted his  pecuniary  accoimts  with  great  re- 
gularity and  neatness.  The  various  public 
documents  which  were  intrusted  to  his  care, 
were  arranged  with  order  and  intelligence. 
His  style  of  penmanship,  if  not  distinguished 
for  elegance,  was  very  neat  and  perspicuous. 
To  the  most  minute  details  of  the  office,  to 
the  most  laborious  examination  and  arrange- 
8* 


90  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS. 

meiit  he  submitted  with  entire  cheerfulness. 
This  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  details 
of  a  system,  enabled  him  to  act  with  confi- 
dence and  energy.  The  effect  of  such  know- 
ledge and  such  habits  on  his  conscience  was 
by  no  means  inconsiderable.  The  tenderness 
and  power  of  that  faculty  are  often  greatly 
lessened  by  the  loose  and  desultory  manner 
of  transacting,  pecuniary  concerns,  which 
many  professing  Christians  adopt.  A  great 
revolution  in  the  habits  of  men,  in  this  parti- 
cular, Avill  be  effected  wlien  they  will  bring 
their  conscience  beneath  the  clear  and  search- 
ing light  of  God's  law.  They  will  see  and 
feel  that  a  Christian  character,  in  its  proper 
meaning,  can  be  maintained  only  by  doing 
at  the  right  time,  and  in  the  right  manner, 
every  duty  which  devolves  upon  them. 

Closely  allied  with  the  preceding  trait,  was 
integrity.  Of  the  property  of  the  church,  which 
was  intrusted  to  his  care,  Mr.  Cornelius  was  a 
faithful  steward;  conscious  that  the  prosperity, 
if  not  the  very  existence  of  our  benevolent  as- 
sociations is  depending  on  the  rigid  honesty 


MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS.  91 

of  those  who  have  the  disposal  of  the  piibhc 
funds.  He  had  evidently  studied  this  subject 
with  much  seriousness  and  attention.  Instead 
of  subjecting  himself  to  the  charge  of  delin- 
quency and  carelessness,  he,  perhaps,  erred 
on  the  other  extreme.  He  frequently  men- 
tioned to  the  writer  of  this  article,  that  he 
never  performed  a  journey  of  considerable 
length,  in  behalf  of  a  public  object,  without  a 
sacrifice  of  his  |>ecuniary  interests.  When 
urged  to  adopt  efficient  measures  to  secure  a 
more  comfortable  pecuniary  support,  he  was 
accustomed  to  bring  forward,  in  justification 
of  his  conduct,  the  example  of  Paul,  who 
gladly  relinquished  his  own  rigiits  that  he 
might  put  no  hinderance  in  the  way  of  the 
Gospel.  We  have  rarely  known  an  instance  ol 
honesty  more  scrupulous,  of  integrity  farther 
beyond  the  reach  of  suspicion,  accompanied 
at  the  same  time  with  great,  and,  considering 
his  circumstances,  munificent  liberalily- 

Mr.  Cornelius  possessed,  in  a  striking  de- 
gree, the  power  of  inducing  others  to  co-ope- 
rate with  him  in  the  accomplishment  of  his 


92  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS. 

plans.  It  was  very  difficult  for  an  individual, 
however  fortified  in  an  adverse  opinion,  to 
resist  his  eloquent  persuasions.  One  secret 
of  his  success,  in  this  particular,  was  his  per- 
sonal experience  in  deciding  questions  of 
duty.  He  had  fully  investigated  those  consi- 
derations by  which  all  men  of  religious  prin- 
ciple are  wont  to  be  guided.  He  could  also 
state  a  question  to  every  description  of  minds 
with  remarkable  clearness.  He  did  not  carry 
his  point  so  much  by  the  invention  of  new  ar- 
guments, as  by  a  luminous  presentation  of  the 
obvious  and  ascertained  facts  and  arguments 
belonging  to  the  question.  We  have  been  sur- 
prised at  the  facility  with  which  men  of  mo- 
derate capacity  apprehended  his  meaning. 
He  had  none  of  that  vanity  which  causes  a 
man  to  hunt  for  original  thoughts  and  modes 
of  expression,  at  the  expense  of  perspicuity 
and  impression.  He  was  willing,  also,  to  re- 
iterate the  same  great  motives  and  arguments, 
when  an  ambitious  spirit,  or  personal  intellec- 
tual benefit,  would  have  tempted  him  to  have 
taken  a  different  course.    Such,   moreover, 


MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS.  93 

was  the  vigor  of  his  imagination  and  the 
strength  of  his  feehngs,  that  he  could  clothe 
a  subject  in  rich  and  attractiv^e  colors.  He 
was  deeply  interested  himself  in  whatever  bu- 
siness he  undertook,  and  this  enabled  him  to 
present  it  to  others  in  its  most  impressive 
forms.  His  object  was  not,  however,  attained 
by  over-statement,  or  by  an  enumeration  of 
unimportant  circumstances,  but  by  show- 
ing the  prominent  aspects  of  the  question  in 
their  bearing  on  tlie  salvation  of  the  world. 
And  here  it  may  be  remarked,  that  he  ever 
retained  the  friends  and  auxiliaries  which  he 
had  secured  to  liis  cause.  Those  who  had 
bestowed  of  their  substance,  bountifully,  at 
his  solicitation,  welcomed  his  return.  He  had 
qualities  which  made  it  delightful  to  be  asso- 
ciated with  him — a  deep  and  sincere  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  others,  even  in  minute  par- 
ticulars— unaffected  kindness  of  manner — 
great  delicacy  of  feeling — freedom  from  eve- 
ry species  of  envy  and  jealousy — the  practice 
of  heartily  conmiending  others,  when  it  could 
be  done  with  truth — and  aconfidcut  liclicf  in 


94  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS. 

the  certain  and  glorious  triumphs  of  the  en- 
terprize  in  which  he  was  engaged.  This  last 
circumstance  was  very  apparent.  He  was  ac- 
customed to  dwell  upon  the  encouraging  as- 
pects of  his  course.  Some  excellent  men,  by 
allowing  their  minds  to  fasten  on  the  apathy 
of  real  Christians,  on  the  avarice  of  merce- 
nary professors  of  Christianity,  and  on  the 
appalling  obstacles  in  the  way  of  success  in 
the  unbelieving  world,  exceedingly  impede 
their  usefulness.  They  become  timid,  gloomy, 
jealous,  if  not  misanthropic.  They  rarely  min- 
gle, with  their  harsh  complaints  and  denunci- 
ations, the  soft  words  of  persuasion  and  en- 
couragement. They  do  not  follow  the  exam- 
ple of  Paul,  who  commended  his  brethren 
whenever  he  could  do  it  in  consistency  with 
truth.  Mr.  Cornelius  acted  on  the  principle  of 
the  Romans,  never  to  despair  of  the  common- 
wealth. He  threw  around  him  an  air  of  cheer- 
fulness and  hope.  This  example  animated 
the  bosoms  of  his  coadjutors.  They  felt  in- 
spired by  the  presence  of  a  leader  who  was 
so  confident  of  victory,  and  so  able,  with  the 
blessing  of  God,  to  secure  it. 


MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS.  95 

One  of  the  traits  in  his  character  to  which 
his  success  in  pubhc  hfe  was  greatly  owing, 
was  the  union  of  sound  judgment  and  ardent 
emotion.  A  stranger,  after  hstening  to  his 
pubhc  addresses,  might  conchide  that  how- 
ever efficient  he  might  be  in  action,  he  would 
not  be  uncommonly  discreet  in  counsel.  But 
the  important  public  measures  of  his  life  will 
bear  the  severest  examination.  In  matters 
comparatively  unimportant,  errors  in  judg- 
ment might  be  discerned.  But  whenever  a 
great  interest  was  at  stake,  no  man  would 
submit  to  more  patient  deliberation.  We  Avill 
select  a  striking  instance  of  his  forethought, 
at  the  very  commencement  of  his  public  ca- 
reer in  1818. 

At  the  time  in  which  he  visited  the  councils 
of  the  Creek  and  Cherokee  Indians,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  inducins^  them  to  co-operate  in  the  esta- 
hhshiiieut  of  schools  and  missions  aniont;  their 
people,  the  (government  of  the  I'uited  States 
were  endeavoring  to  induce  the  Indians  to  re- 
move west  of  the  Mississippi.  Soon  after  the  ar- 
rival of  Mr.  Cornelius  in  New-Orleans,  a  friend 


96  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS. 

in  Tennessee  informed  him  that  a  report  was 
in  circulation  in  that  State,  that  he  had  used 
all  his  influence  while  with  the  Indians,  to 
persuade  them  not  to  sell  their  lands  and  emi- 
grate, according  to  the  wishes  of  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States ;  and  further,  that 
on  the  strength  of  this  report  the  Governor 
of  Tennessee  had  written  to  the  Secretary  of 
War,  cautioning  him  to  guard  against  the  in- 
fluence and  designs  of  Mr.  Cornelius.  This 
intelligence,  totally  unexpected  as  it  was,  did 
not  lead  him  to  act  unadvisedly,  nor  to  delay 
acting  promptly.  It  happened  most  providen- 
tially that  when  he  had  visited  the  Indian 
tribes,  two  or  three  Tennessee  merchants 
were  in  company  with  him.  on  their  way  to 
New-Orleans,  and  had  heard  all  his  commu- 
nications with  the  Indians,  as  he  had  acted 
solely  through  the  medium  of  an  interpreter. 
He  immediately  procured  aflidavits  from  these 
merchants,  fully  disproving  the  charges  which 
had  been  made  against  him.  and  forwarded 
them  to  the  Department  of  War.  This  mea- 
sure at  once  corrected  the  misapprehension. 


MEMORY     OF    CORXULIUS.  07 

and  restored  liim  to  the  confidence  of  the  go- 
vernment. On  his  return  to  Washington,  he 
deposited  in  the  records  of  the  Secretary's 
office  a  document  containing-  a  complete 
view  of  the  whole  case.  Such  judo;mcnt  and 
prompt  action,  in  an  inexperienced  youth  ot" 
twenty-one,  is  certainly  not  common.  If  the 
inquiry  is  made  for  the  cause  of  this  maturity 
of  judgment  in  an  individual  who  had  feel- 
ings so  ardent,  the  reply  would  he.  that  it 
was  doubtless  in  ])art  to  be  attril)uted  to  an 
original  structure  of  his  mind.  He  was  also 
in  the  habit  of  carefully  consulting  the  opin- 
ions of  others.  When  a  case  of  great  impor- 
tance came  before  him,  no  one  was  more 
anxious  to  receive  the  light  wliich  others 
could  scatter  in  his  p;ith.  He  was  habitually 
accustomed,  also,  to  look  to  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  in  whom  are  all  the  treasures  of  wis- 
dom and  knowledge.  He  did  not  cultivate 
simply  a  general  feeling  of  dependence  upon 
him ;  he  had  an  abiding  conviction  of  the 
real  existence  and  presence  of  the  Savior. 
He  cherished,  in  a  remarlcablo  dcgici'.  the 
9 


98  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS. 

belief,  that  erery  circumstance,  howei^er  mi- 
nute, which  has  reference  to  the  prosperity  of 
the  church,  is  under  the  special  care  of  its 
Great  Head.  Lord,  what  wilt  tlioii  have  me 
to  do  ?  contained  a  sentiment  which  was  ever 
on  his  lips,  and  which  was  deeply  engraven 
on  his  heart.  His  prayers,  without  degene- 
rating into  trifling  minuteness  or  tedious  pro- 
lixity, were  marked  by  an  intelligent  enume- 
ration of  those  particulars  which  were  best  cal- 
culated to  awaken  his  own  feelings,  and  by 
a  solemn  recognition  of  the  interest  which  his 
Redeemer  felt  in  all  the  plans  that  respected 
his  own  glory  and  kingdom. 

Those  who  were  conversant  with  Mr.  Cor- 
nelius, must  have  been  struck  with  the  en- 
largement of  his  views  and  the  philanthropy 
of  his  feelings.  This  was  apparent  and  pro- 
minent in  all  the  relations  which  he  sustain- 
ed. He  looked  above  and  beyond  local  feel- 
ing, and  party  prejudice,  and  sectarian  self- 
ishness, and  national  antipathies.  He  was 
emphatically  the  friend  of  the  human  race. 
No  circumstances  ever  filled  him  with  more 
unaffected  sorrow  than  the  prospect  of  divi- 


i 


MEMORY    OF    COIINELIUS.  99 

sions  among  the  churches  of  Christ.  He  felt 
that  all,  who  had  been  redeemed  by  the  blood 
of  Christ,  should  show  their  high  calling  by- 
living  at  peace  with  one  another.  This  ca- 
tholic spirit  was  not  attained  by  any  sacrifice 
of  principle.  He  loved  the  great  doctrines  of 
the  Gospel,  and  on  them  alone  placed  his  hope 
of  eternal  life.  Still  he  held  the  truth  in  love. 
He  made  his  very  attachment  to  the  peculiar 
doctrines  of  Christianity  the  occasion  of  more 
fervent  and  expansive  regard  to  all  who  were 
rejoicing  in  the  same  precious  faith. 

It  might  be  inferred,  perhaps,  from  the  pre- 
ceding remarks,  that  energy  must  have  been 
one  of  his  prominent  characteristics.  This 
enabled  him,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  accom- 
plish, in  a  few  years,  great  results.  He  seems 
to  have  had,  especially  during  the  last  years 
of  his  life,  a  strong  impression  of  the  brevity 
of  human  existence,  and  a  belief  that  if  he 
intended  to  do  any  thing  for  his  fellow  men, 
it  must  be  done  noir.  It  was  interesting  to 
see  how  active  his  mind  was  in  providing 
against  any  relaxation  or  intervals  in  his  en- 


100  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS. 

gagements.  He  was  as  solicitous  to  anticipate 
and  forestall  labor,  as  many  others  are  rest  and 
amusement.  His  mind  was  ingenious  and  fer- 
tile  in  discovering  expedients,  on  an  elevated 
scale,  for  doing  good.  At  the  time  of  his 
death,  he  probably  had  plans  and  objects  in 
view  which  would  have  required,  in  their 
execution,  a  much  larger  space  than  is  allot- 
ted to  man  upon  earth.  This  promptitude  of 
character  was  essentially  aided  by  some  of 
his  personal  habits.  While  in  the  prosecution 
of  an  enterprize,  he  rarely  intermitted  his 
work  for  the  sake  of  examining  his  motives. 
Such  a  step  would  have  evidently  weakened 
and  retarded  his  efforts.  For  the  time  being 
he  threw  himself,  and  all  his  capabilities  of 
mind  and  action,  into  the  enterprize  before 
him.  Previously  to  entering  on  his  labors, 
he  carefully  examined  the  state  of  his  heart, 
and  frequently  set  apart  an  entire  day  for  spi- 
ritual preparation.  When  his  engagement 
terminated,  he  faithfully  reviewed  the  condi 
tion  of  his  soul,  and  sought  repentance  foi 
those  things  which  had  been  repugnant  to 


MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS.  101 

his  profession.    Thoii2:h  this  method  of  self- 
examination  might  not  be  expedient  to  such 
as  have  favorable  opportunities  daily,  yet,  in 
a  public   agent,  it  is  altogether  the   wisest 
course.    Such  a  man,  while  rapidly  journey- 
ing from  place  to  place,  compelled  to  accom- 
plish within  a  given  period  a  great  amount 
of  business,  has  no  time  nor  place  to  slop  and 
critically  investigate  his  motives.    He  must 
make  prayer  and  self-examination  a  stated 
and  special  work.    The  energy  in  the  cha- 
racter of  Mr.  Cornelius  was  increased  by  the 
thorough  knowledge  of  his  duties,  which  he 
at  all  times  possessed.    He  did  not  toil  in  ig- 
norance or  misapprehension.    He  obtained  a 
clear  idea  of  the  specific  work  before  him,  and 
made  skillful  arrangements  for  its  prosecution 
and  completion.    Of  course  he  rarely  wasted 
his  energy,  and  suffered  little  from  any  des- 
pondency of  mind   consequent  upon   such 
waste.    His  energy,  however,  did  not  partake 
in  the  least  of  obstinacy  or  fierceness.    He 
had  gentle  feelings  and  truly  delicate  sensi- 
bilities.   Often  did  he  bind  up  the  broken 


102  MEMORY    OF    CORNELIUS. 

heart,  and  heal  the  wounded  spirit.  He  loved 
to  administer  the  consolations  of  the  Gospel  at 
the  bedside  of  the  sick  and  dying.  No  acts 
of  his  life  are  cherished  with  more  grateful 
remembrance  by  his  flock  at  Salem,  than 
those  performed  on  such  occasions.  It  was 
not  an  aftected  or  an  official  display  of  s^Tn- 
pathy.  It  was  the  outpouring  of  a  heart  full 
of  tenderness.  In  his  intercourse  with  his  fa- 
mily there  was  a  mingled  expression  of  dig- 
nity and  kindness.  The  authority  of  the  pa- 
rent was  sweetly  blended  with  the  amenity  of 
a  friend  and  companion.  It  is  in  the  social 
circle  where  a  breach  has  been  made  which 
time  will  never  close.  There  has  been  the 
crushing  of  fond  hopes.  The  mere  respect 
and  esteem,  which  a  general  acquaintance 
with  him  could  not  fail  to  produce,  may  be 
forgotten  ;  but  the  circle  of  friends  who  knew 
him  intimately  will  need  something  more 
than  the  lapse  of  time,  or  intercourse  with 
the  world,  to  efface  their  sorrow.  May  He, 
who  is  the  Resurrection  and  the  Life,  esta- 
blish with  them  his  covenant  of  peace. 


MEMORY    OF    C0UNELIU3.  1U3 

Mr.  Cornelius,  though  he  was  called  away 
before  he  reached  the  middle  period  of  life, 
did  not  live  in  vain.  He  gave  a  noble  testi- 
mony to  the  fact  that  Christianity  is  an  in- 
ward principle,  controlling,  the  heait,  mold- 
ing the  life,  and  eftectually  subduing  every 
adverse  interest.  Wherever  he  went,  he  car- 
ried the  conviction  that  he  was  not  labor- 
ing for  himself,  but  for  his  liord  and  Master. 
He  had  fixed  his  eye  on  the  conversion  of  all 
mankind  to  Clirist.  When  he  first  entered 
on  his  religious  life,  this  was  the  idea  which 
took  possession  of  his  soul.  He  felt  that  he 
had  experienced  the  grace  of  God  only  that 
he  might  bring  others  to  partake  of  the  same 
blessed  grace.  Doing  good  became  the  pas- 
sion of  his  soul.  For  this  he  expended  the 
energies  of  a  muscular  frame,  of  a  comi)re- 
hensive  intellect,  and  of  a  fervent  spirit,  till 
death  interrupted  his  work,  or  rather  changed 
its  sphere.  With  earthly  passions  he  had,  in- 
deed, to  contend.  With  the  warfare  between 
the  "  spiritual  man  "  and  the  "  heart  which 
is  by  nature  desperately  wicked,"  he  was  in- 


104  MEMORY    OF    CORNELITTS. 

timately  conversant.  Still  he  kept  his  eye 
fixed  upon  the  divine  Redeemer,  and  in  his 
strength  went  forth  to  the  conflict.  The 
motto  which  he  formally  adopted,  and  upon 
which  he  acted,  was,  "  I  keep  under  my  body, 
and  briug  it  into  subjection,  lest,  after  having 
preached  to  others,  I  myself  should  be  a  cast- 
away." The  most  powerful  means,  which 
he  adopted  for  this  purpose,^  was  doing  good — 
laboring  for  Christ.  In  this  course  he  sacri- 
ficed ease,  prospects  of  worldly  competence, 
and  literary  hopes. 

God,  in  his  holy  sovereignty,  has  taken 
him  away.  He  teaches  us  most  affectingly 
that  he  can  do  without  us  or  any  of  our  ser- 
vices. The  utter  vanity  of  all  earthly  de- 
pendencies was  never  more  impressively  ex- 
hibited. Who  now  can  feel  that  any  man's 
existence  is  indispensable  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  Christian  cause  ?  Who  will  not 
now  place  a  more  entire  confidence  in  Christ  ? 
Who  will  not,  while  he  adores  the  profound 
mystery  of  God's  providence,  give  himself  to 
his  work  with  redoubled  energy  ?    If  we  are 


MEMORY    OF    C0RNELIU3.  1  0 j 

followers  of  them  who  have  fought  tiie  good 
fight,  we  shall  join  their  society.  A  blessed 
company  is  collecting  around  the  throne. 
Rapidly  are  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord  gather- 
ing from  their  wide  dispersion,  and  silting 
down  to  the  marriage-supper  of  the  Lamb. 
The  ties,  which  connect  us  with  heaven,  are 
constantly  increasing.  ••  There  our  best  friends 
and  kindred  dwell."  There  is  our  glorious 
Redeemer.  Let  us  so  live,  that  when  the 
Bridegroom  cometli.  we  may  go  c^it  with  joy 
to  meet  him, 

Note. — This  ^ketcli  orComeluis  is  t:iken  from  tlio 
duarterly  Rcgipter  of  the  American  Eilucalioii  Sj- 
ciel\'  conducted  bv  B.  B.  E  Iw.irilij. 


MEMOIR  OF  WISNER. 


BT    SAMUEL    H.  COX,    D.  D. 


There  is  something  awful  in  the  slate 
even  of  the  pious  dead,  that  seems  also  pecu- 
har  to  them.  Their  career  is  finished.  They 
are  majestically  seated  with  Christ  in  his 
throne.  Even  Christian  faith  that  abhors  the 
apotheosis  of  creatures,  sees  a  divinity  in  their 
glorified  condition.  Jewels  they  were  of  the 
Redeemer,  fine  and  polished,  even  when  on 
earth  ;  some  of  them,  brilliant  and  of  the  first 
magnitude.  Hut  they  are  now  placed  in  his 
diadem;  and  their  lustres  liv^c  for  ever.  Rust 
decay,  change,  danger,  dimness,  have  no 
abode  or  entrance  or  memorial  in  tiie  spheres 
of  iioliness  and  bliss.  They  need  no  canon- 
izing at  Rome,  being  sainted  in  reality  and 
that  in  the  metropolis  of  the  universe.    If  any 


MEMOIR    OF     WISNER.  107 

of  the  species  are  to  be  envied — pardon  so 
mean  an  illustration — it  is  not  those  who  re- 
main still  in  the  body.  The  dead  are  beati- 
fied. Theirs  is  the  vision,  the  fruition,  the 
perfection  of  God.  TJiey  have  washed  their 
robes  and  made  the?n  white  in  the  blood  of 
the  Lamb.  Therefore  are  they  before  the 
throne  of  God,  and  serve  him  day  and  night 
in  his  temple ;  and  he  that  sitteth  on  the 
throne  shall  dwell  among  them.  They  shall 
hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more ; 
neither  shall  the  siai  light  on  them,,  nor  any 
heat.  For  the  Lamb  which  is  in  the  midst 
of  the  throne  shall  feed  them,  and  shall  lead 
them  nnto  living  fonntains  of  waters:  and 
God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their 
eyes. 

Our  loss  at  the  departure  of  such  worthies 
as  the  cause  of  our  Foreign  Missions  has 
been  called  to  weep,  in  so  many  successive 
instances  and  from  spheres  of  usefulness  so 
eminent  and  promising,  is  too  great,  and  too 
recent,  not  to  need  the  solaces  that  are 
neither  few  nor  small."     We  lift  our  eves 


MEMOIR    OF     WISNEn.  109 

from  earth  and  its  ruins,  from  the  church  and 
its  calamities,  from  human  comforters  and 
fciding  things  ;  and  fasten  them  on  glory  and 
on  God.  Here  is  rest  and  permanency.  We 
see  WHO  reigns,  not  more  excellent  than 
prosperous ;  not  more  holy  than  happy ;  God 
over  all,  blessed  for  ever.  We  are  refreshed, 
we  are  healed.  He  is  unerring.  What /te  does, 
whatever  he  does,  all  his  agency  as  such 
is  absolute  perfection,  doing  what  is  incom- 
parably best.  He  never  forgets  his  church; 
never  sacrifices  the  true  interests  of  his  king- 
dom ;  never  in  a  single  instance  regrets,  or 
could  amend,  his  own  everlasting  ways. 
Great  and  marvellous  are  thy  works,  Lord 
God  Almighty  ;  just  and  true  arc  thy  ways, 
thou  King  of  saints.  TT/io  shall  not  fear 
thee,  O  Lord,  and  glorify  thy  name  ?  for 
thou  only  art  holy :  for  all  nations  shall 

COME  AND  WORSHIP  BEFORE  THEE  ;  for  thy 

judgments  are  made  manifest. 

Another  great  man  is  fallen  in  our  Israel ; 
and  whatever  llie  gain  to  him,  not  less  is  the 
loss  to  us. 

10 


110  SfEMOIR    OF    WibSZn. 

In  Virtue's  eye  the  yood  alone  are  great; 
The  great  loo  seldom  i^ood. 

In  an  estimate  the  most  sober  and  chastised ; 
rejecting  superfluity,  and  pageantry,  and 
glare  ;  viewing  these  high  quahties  in  their 
proper  nature  and  their  purest  elements ; 
caring  nothing  for  what  is  adventitious  or 
imaginary ;  forming  our  conclusions  too 
Avithout  the  parsimony  of  the  sordid  or  the 
humility  of  the  envious ;  thinking  of  our 
WisNER  as  calmly  as  we  can  in  his  true 
character,  now  that  his  course  is  finished  and 
his  warfare  fought,  now  that  his  fame  is 
heavenly  or  has  become  the  especial  inheri- 
tance of  the  surviving  church,  we  know  of 
no  reason  why  we  should  not  glorify  God 
in  him  as  in  a  noble  and  gracious  specimen 
of  his  own  workmanship — a  great  and  good 
man.  By  changing  the  first  word,  or  substi- 
tuting his,  we  might  appropriate,  as  his  epi- 
taph, the  following  beautiful  tribute  of  apos- 
tolic simplicity  and  commendation  ;  Demet- 
rhis  hath  good  report  of  all  ?}ien.  and  of  the 


MEMOIR    OF    WISNl.R.  Ill 

truth  itself :  yea.  and  we  also  bear  record  ; 
and  ye  know  that  our  record  is  true. 

It  may  well  be  questioned  if  any  clergyinan 
of  his  years  and  general  standing,  has  died 
any  where  in  this  age,  with  a  reputation  more 
enviable,  equitable,  or  pure,  than  that  of  Dr. 
Wisner.  Its  negative  aspects,  so  far  as  we 
know,  were  perfectly  excellent.  Whatever 
his  defects  of  character  might  have  been  in 
the  sight  of  God,  where  no  mortal  is  other 
than  faulty  and  imj^erfect,  they  were  scarcely 
palpable  or  discernible  in  the  sight  of  men. 
At  least  they  were  much  or  totally  unknown  : 
while  his  positive  excellencies  were  many  and 
distinguishing.  His  business  character  was 
(hat  of  practical  correctness  and  despatch,  of 
tact  and  utility.  It  was  methodical  and  accu- 
rate, executive  and  sober,  industrious  and  ef- 
fective :  in  these  qualities  he  truly  excelled  ; 
there  being  few  of  the  sacred  profession  any 
where,  whose  proficiency  in  heavenly  learn- 
ing became  so  sound  .;<nd  deep  and  clear, 
without  manifestly  impairing  their  competen- 
cy  for  the  performance  of  matters  and  duties 


112  MEMOIR    OF    V/TSNER, 

comparatively  secular  and  common.  In  this 
respect  his  loss  to  the  missionary  cause,  and 
especially  to  the  department  of  home  cor- 
respondence, will  not  probably  be  soon  sup- 
plied. The  churches  were  increasins^ly  pleased 
with  him ;  and  happy  in  responding,  through 
such  an  organ,  to  the  communications  and 
appeals  of  the  Prudential  Committee. 

As  the  present  notice  of  Dr.  Wisner  is  not 
meant  to  be  an  extended  or  even  a  proper 
biography,  and  certainly  not  to  anticipate 
or  preclude  one,  being  merely  a  sketch  of  the 
facts  of  his  life  with  an  outline  of  his  chatacter> 
the  expectations  of  the  reader  will  of  course 
conform  to  the  professions  of  the  writer  in 
respect  to  its  generality  and  brevity.  His 
funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Fay  ;  and  from  its  expected  publication,, 
we  anticipated  for  this  volume  the  selections 
that  were  to  complete  its  contents.  But  in 
this  we  have  been  disappointed,*  in  common 

*  The  writer  of  this  too  hasty  sketch  owes  it  to 
himself  at  least,  to  say  that  he  consented  at  first  to 
write  the  Introduction  to  this  volume,  at  the  request 


MEMOIR    OF    WISNER.  113 

with  many  of  the  christian  community.  The 
sermon  is  not,  we  understand,  to  be  given  to 
the  pubhc.  We  have  hence  been  dependent 
on  general  reports  of  what  the  sermon  con- 
tained, for  any  assistance — and  we  should  be 
happy  to  acknowledge  our  obligations  for 
more — received  from  its  paragraphs  and  col- 
lections. Dr.  Wisner  was  better  known  to 
the  writer  in  his  proper  character,  than  in  the 
incidents  and  facts  of  his  personal  history. 

of  tlie  publisher.^,  with  the  e.Kpectatiou  of  terminating 
liis  part  where  it  beiran.     But  their  disappointment 
was  announced  to  him,  after  that  part  and  tliose  of 
Evarls  and  Cornelius  were  in  type,  and  waiting  the 
arrival  ol  documents  from  which  it  was  intended  to 
complete  the  volume.    In  this  exigency  of  the  pub- 
lisheis,  he  very  reluctantly  undertook- a  work  which 
ought  to  be  performed  with  more  materials,  more 
time,  and  more  adaptation  of  authorship,  than  it  was 
in  his  power  to  command.    The  liope  however  of  be- 
ing in  some  degree  useful,  without  being  in  any  de- 
gree hurtful,  has  sustained  him  in  venturing  the  per- 
formance before  the  public ;  and  it  cannot  be  echpsed 
by  a  fitting  biograpliy,  too  stwn  for  his  own  feolinga 
or  those  of  the  communiiy. 
10' 


114  MEMOIR    OF    WISNEH. 

For  these  therefore  he  will  be  more  regardful 
ofauthorities  and  the  attestations  ofotherS;  than 
in  the  delineation,  however  imperfect,  of  the 
qualities  that  defined  him  in  the  daily  walks 
of  life.  Still,  these  are  not  the  most  valuable 
recollections  of  an  individual.  Considered 
apart,  they  are  of  little  importance  ;  especially 
in  embalming-  the  mem.ory  of  the  good.  "With 
the  princes  and  heroes  of  this  world,  charac- 
ter essentially  considered,  and  especially  as 
viewed  in  the  light  of  an  eternal  criterion, 
character  is  nothing ;  events  and  exploits  are 
all.  If  these  are  splendid  or  magnificent,  if 
they  become  the  pivots  of  destiny  to  a  nation 
or  an  age,  if  they  remain  moruimental  of  a 
place  and  a  moment  and  a  man  with  whom 
their  celebrity  is  associated,  then  it  is  that  the 
man  becomes  the  hero  of  their  history,  lighted 
by  their  glare  to  the  plaudits  of  posterity :  with- 
out an  inquisition  or  a  verdict  or  a  thought 
on  the  absolutely  distinct  question  of  that 
hero's  character,  or  the  genuine  virtue  that 
did  or  did  not  constitute  any  part  of  it.  Be- 
sides, history  is  often  at  fault  in  its  praises, 


MEMOIR    OF    WISNER.  115 

on  another  principle.    It  has  confounded,  it 
may  be,  connection  with  causation  ;  proximi- 
ty with  achievement ;    a  relation  of  affinity 
wholly  passive,  with  an  action  of  deliberate 
wisdom  and  steady  performance.    It  was  not 
perhaps  the  hero  that  made  the  occasion,  but 
the  occasion  that  made  him.    He  might  have 
never  thought  of  the  means,  as  such,  by  which 
the  result  was  achieved ;  or  even  have  anti- 
cipated the  result  at  all.    But  they  whose  vo- 
cation it  is  to  eclipse  the  providence  of  God, 
must  yield  to  the  temptation  of  deifying  that 
of  man.     Their  hero  was  actuated  only  by 
the  purposes  that  induced  the  corresponding 
events.    He  was  lord  of  his  own  destiny,  and 
there  was  no  other  being  m  v:hoie  hand 
his  breath  vms,  and  whose  were  all  his  ways, 
and  whom  he  had  not  glorified ! 

Some  write  a  narrative  of  \var.~,  and  feats 

Of  heroes  Utile  known  ;  and  call  the  rant 

A  his'.ory  ;  describe  the  man,  of  whom 

His  own  coevals  took  but  little  note  ; 

And  paint  his  person,  character,  and  views, 

A3  they  had  known  him  from  his  mother's  wcrab. 


116  MEMOIR    OF     WISNLR. 

They  diseiitanirle  f.om  the  puzzled  sltein, 
In  wliich  obscurity  has  wrapj/M  them  np, 
The  tlircuiU  of  politic  and  slirewd  design 
That  r.m  through  all  his  piirpopr s  and  chr.r^e 
His  mind  with  meanings  that  he  never  had, 
Or,  having,  kept  conceak'd. 

We  do  not  mean  to  deny  the  just  connec- 
tion between  providential  events  and  the  de- 
pendent agency  of  men.  There  is  also  a  con- 
nection of  great  intimacy  between  the  de- 
velopement  of  character  and  tlie  objects  in 
view  of  which  it  was  formed.  Human  agency 
too,  though  dependent,  is  accountable  ;  and 
the  great  architect  of  our  being,  has  left  us 
ample  scope  for  the  due  exercise  and  ex- 
pansion of  our  powers.  He  is  equally  the  ar- 
chitect and  the  preserver  of  our  proper  free- 
dom ;  while  on  high  he  wisely  arbitrates 
events,  and  v-orkeih  all  things  according  to 
the  counsel  of  his  oicn  will.  It  may  here  be 
added  that  comparatively  few  events  of  a 
thrilling  spirit-stirring  character,  are  ordina- 
rily to  be  found  in  the  tranquil  annals  of  the 
good.    Hence  they  are  oftener  despised  than 


MEMOIR    OF    WISXER.  117 

rewarded  in  this  world.  They  care  for  prin- 
ciples ;  for  truth  and  its  relations  ;  for  motives 
acceptable  to  God  ;  for  a  conscience  without 
offence  ;  for  beins:  useful  rather  than  famous  ; 
for  doing  good  more  than  being  praised  for 
it ;  for  avoiding  temptation  and  display ;  for 
keeping  bright  their  evidences  of  acceptance 
in  the  Beloved  ;  and  for  ripening  progres- 
sively for  the  heavenly  inheritance.  Conse- 
quently, there  is  very  little  romance  in  their 
story.  Tiieir  life  is  more  even  in  its  tenor, 
more  noiseless  in  its  lapse,  more  peaceful  in 
its  end,  than  that  which  suits  the  muse  of 
poetry  or  history.  But  is  it  less  excellent  than 
others  J  Is  it  less  worthy  of  perusal  or  less 
profitable  for  contemplation  7  Nay,  is  it  less 
grand,  intellectual,  or  philosophical  ?  Not  at 
all.  Instead  of  less,  it  is  more  worthy,  more 
useful,  more  admirable.  It  is  more  distin- 
guished and  illustrious.  It  is  removed  far- 
ther from  greatness  that  is  vulgar,  from  gran- 
deur that  is  puerile  or  pagan.  It  is  alone 
worthy  of  imitation.  It  possesses  the  living 
seeds  of  immortality,  and  the  destined  germ 


113  MLMOIR    OF    WISXER. 

of  glory.  Its  honors  will  be  sacred  in  the  re- 
collections of  heaven,  wlicn  inscriptions  will 
be  effaced  and  monuments  have  mouldered  on 
the  earth.  Let  us  therefore  mark  the  ^perfect 
man,  and  behold  the  upright :  for  the  end 
of  that  man  is  jjeace. 

Benjamin  B.  Wisner  was  born  in  Goshen, 
Orange  County,  N.  Y.  the  29th  of  September, 
1794.  He  died  on  Monday  evening,  Febru- 
ary 9, 1835,  aged  40  years,  4  months,  and  11 
days.  At  the  early  age  of  three,  he  removed 
with  his  father  to  Geneva,  then  a  mere  wil- 
derness. His  father  was  among  the  first  set- 
tlers, and  may  be  accounted  one  of  tlie  found- 
ers of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  that  vicini- 
ty. He  ^vas  by  profession  a  la\\^er ;  and  for 
some  years  before  his  death,  District  Attorney 
for  the  Western  District  of  New- York.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  forty-four ;  when  Benja- 
min, his  oldest  son,  was  about  twenty.  AVliile 
absent  from  home  on  his  professional  busi- 
ness, the  father  was  attacked  with  the  palsy, 
and  died  before  his  friends  could  reach  him. 
His  mother  was  also  a  professor  of  the  reli- 


MK>fOIB    OF    WISNEK.  119 

gion  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  died  about  nine 
years  since. 

Young  Wisner  spent  the  early  part  of  liis 
life  at  home,  employing  much  of  his  time  in 
agriculture.  Of  this  employment  he  was  al- 
ways fond ;  and  by  it  he  acquired  that  strength 
and  vigor  of  constitution  which  he  certainly 
l)ossessed,  and  from  which  his  many  friends 
at  least,  cherished  tlie  prospect  of  his  prolong- 
ed career  on  earth.  It  is  thought  also  that  an 
occupation  so  favorable  to  reflection,  so  teem- 
ing with  demonstrations  of  God,  so  independ- 
ent of  creatures  by  reason  of  its  greater  de- 
pendence on  the  creator,  so  primitive  and  pa- 
triarchal though  more  in  vogue  with  the  an- 
cients than  with  us,  must  hav'e  had  also  a 
happy  influence  on  the  health  and  even  the 
2:rowth  of  mind,  of  which  the  advantages 
were  many  and  parallel  with  the  days  of  his 
snbsequfMit  life. 

In  ancicul  time  ,  tlu'  S;irrcii  plow  einpIovM 
Tiic  Ivi  'g-:  •iiiil  awliil  lailicrs  i  f  iiiaiiiui:<!  ; 

and  we  may  make  a  deducli()n  by  the  wa^-. 


120  MEMOIR    or    WISNfR. 

from  the  example  of  Dr.  Wisner,  much  in 
favor  of  its  influence.  The  whole  business 
of  agricuhure  seems  favorable  to  the  being  of 
man,  to  his  moral  and  physical  education 
jointly,  and  to  the  real  worth  and  permanent 
welfare  of  society :  as  it  is  more  in  accoixlance 
with  the  original  constitution  of  his  maker, 
than  are  those  states  of  society  and  habits  of 
life,  which  may  be  called  artificial  and  facti- 
tious in  comparison, 

Where  honor  sinks  as  rommerce  more  prevails  5 
Where  wealth  accumulates  and  men  decay. 

There  is  another  quality  which  seems  natu- 
rally to  result  from  rural  occupations,  and 
which  Dr.  Wisner  eminently  possessed — that 
of  practical  facility  and  skilful  aptness  at  any 
thing  that  is  to  be  done.  The  habitude  of 
this  in  manual  pursuits  and  manly  action, 
becomes  a  part  of  the  individual,  and  is  use- 
fully transferred  to  toils  mental  and  literary. 
Thus  the  transition  was  neither  severe  nor 
uncongenial,  when  he  commenced  his  classi- 
cal and  preparatory  course  of  study  with  the 


MEMOIR    OF    WISNKR  121 

Rev  Hen^  Axtell,  D.  D.  of  his  paternal  vil- 
lage.   His  proficiency  was  good  and  constant, 
as  well  as  thorough  and  masterly.   He  enter- 
ed the  Sophomore  Class  in  Union  College  at 
the  age  of  sixteen,  and  was  graduated  there 
in  1813.   Here  his  character  was  equally  well 
sustained,  being  remarkable  for  regularity  and 
strict  attention  to  his  studies.    He  here  ac- 
quired or  rather  perfected  those  habits  of  or- 
der and  industry,  which  were  so  serviceable, 
and  for  which  he  was  so  distinguished  in  fu- 
ture life.    Pimctuality  was  with  him  a  virtue, 
as  well  as  a  characteristic.    During  his  whole 
course  of  three  years,  he  was  never  once 
iiiarkcd  for  absence.    As  a  scholar  his  stand- 
intr  was  high  ;  he  was  universally  respected  : 
and  at  his  graduation  he  received  the  second 
honor.  His  name  is  at  this  moment  a  durable 
renown  to  his  Alma  Mater,  and  his  example 
a  safe  and  useful  light  to  the  junior  Alumni 
of  that  favored  Institution.    With  capacities 
equal  to  the  first,  his  application  to  his  stu- 
dies was  only  the  greater  as  he  more  compre- 
hended their  uses  and  vanquished  their  diffi- 
11 


122  MEMOIR    OF    WI8NER. 

culties.  With  that  assumed  indicaflon  of  na- 
tive genius,  which  consists  with  many  in  a 
proud  neglect  of  study — the  only  proof  they 
furnish  of  its  existence — Dr.  Wisner  had  no 
sympathy;  and  his  actions  add  no  sanction, 
but  rather  another  refutation,  to  its  arrogant 
pretensions.  It  is  almost  too  silly  to  be  refuted. 

After  he  left  College,  he  spent  one  year  as 
a  teacher  in  the  Academy  at  Johnstown.  On 
the  death  of  his  father,  at  this  period,  the  set- 
tlement of  his  estate  occupied  the  next  year. 
At  the  same  time,  he  resumed  his  favorite  oc- 
cupation of  husbandry.  On  the  benefit  of 
these  toils  to  his  constitution  and  his  spirits, 
he  has  often  spontaneously  lectured  young 
men  who  were  preparing  for  the  ministry. 

In  the  autumn  of  1815  he  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  tutor  in  Union  College  ;  where 
his  worth  was  known,  and  where  another 
three  years  of  his  life  was  usefully  occupied. 
With  filial  zeal  he  devoted  himself  to  the  du- 
ties of  his  station  ;  and  performed  them  in  a 
manner,  which,  were  it  as  common  as  tutors 
are,  would  g-o  far  to  reduce  the  evils  of  an  ob- 


MEMOIR    OF    WISNEH.  123 

jectionable  system.  The  subject  of  religion 
had  often  at  intervals  affected  his  mind  ;  and 
now  it  was  that  he  professed  his  faith  in  the 
Redeemer  of  men,  and  joined  the  church  in 
Schenectady  in  1816.  Sliortly  afterward  he 
commenced  the  study  of  theology  with  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Yates,  then  Professor  of  Moral  Phi- 
losophy in  that  Institution,  and  who  frequent- 
ly fitted  young  men  for  the  ministry  in  con- 
nection with  his  official  duties.  At  this  time 
Dr.  Wisner,  Avith  another  Tutor,  had  their 
hearts  turned  toward  the  condition  of  the 
colored  people  of  that  neighborhood  ;  and  as 
the  result  of  their  humane  and  praiseworthy 
exertions  for  their  good,  a  congregation  of 
colored  people  was  speedily  formed  in  Sche- 
nectady, to  whom  they  regularly  imparted 
divine  instruction,  and  worshipped  with  them, 
on  Saturday  evenings,  and  also  maintained  a 
Sabbath  School  on  the  succeeding  evenings. 
His  character  in  this  was  the  proper  counter- 
part to  that  of  Dr.  Cornelius.  How  true  it  is 
that  the  inlluence  of  the  Gospel  is  the  genu- 
ine antidote  to  the  miseries  of  man  !    The 


124  MEMOIR    OF    WISNER. 

cruelty  that  crushes  down  the  son  of  Ethiopia 
in  this  land  of  universal  liberty — except  the 
exceptions — will  yield  to  nothing  but  the  Gos- 
pel of  God,  if  it  does  to  that !  And  how  obvi- 
ously would  that  Gospel  induce  unity  of  sen- 
timent and  active  beneficence,  among  all  men, 
in  reference  to  the  rights  and  wrongs  of  our 
colored  population,  were  it  not  for  busy  hy- 
pocrisy, obdurate  pride,  and  malignant  preju- 
dice, resisting  the  influence  of  the  Spirit  of 
God,  unceasingly  testifying  our  duty  in  that 
Gospel  and  to  that  deeply  injured  race  ! 

In  November,  1818,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
four,  Dr.  Wisner  entered  the  Theological  Se- 
minary at  Princeton,  N.  J.  where  he  remain- 
ed two  years.  Here  he  was  always  useful, 
busy,  and  beloved.  His  intellectual  character 
had  now  acquired  a  richness  and  a  ripeness 
which  gave  greater  value  to  its  strength,  and 
always  evoked  the  meed  due  to  distinguished 
talents  proportionately  imbued  with  piety.  If 
any  one  was  at  all  unconscious  of  his  supe- 
riority and  worth,  it  was  himself  alone.  And 
yet  Dr.  Wisner  had  sufficient  judgment  even 


MEMOIR    OF    WISNER.  1*25 

in  an  estimate  of  himself,  to  understand  his 
duties  as  related  to  the  capacities  with  which 
he  was  endowed.  The  importunities  of  vani- 
ty however  were  coerced  or  precluded  by  the 
just  sentiment  of  responsibility.  There  was 
a  predominating  modesty,  simplicity  and  gen- 
tleness of  behavior,  whicli  shed  an  additional 
and  very  lovely  charm  over  his  sterner  quali- 
ties ;  and  which  failed  not  to  commend  him 
perhaps  equally  to  his  fellow  students  and  the 
faculty  themselves.  He  was  a  general  favor- 
ite. While  in  Princeton,  he  was  accustomed 
to  labor  in  destitute  congregations  of  the  vi- 
cinity. He  also  held  the  office  of  Superinten- 
dent of  a  Sabbath  School.  As  a  proof  of  his 
customary  assiduity,  it  is  mentioned  that  he 
copied  in  full  the  lectures  of  all  three  of  the 
Professors  in  that  Institution  ;  and  those  who 
knew  him,  knew  as  well  that  he  had  not  only 
thus  transcribed  their  instructions  :  he  also 
understood  and  digested  them,  with  exem- 
plary thought  and  correctness. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-five,  he  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  Gosjv^l,  June  1820.    Tliisyear, 

ir 


126  MEMOIR    OF    WISNER. 

while  yet  pursuing  his  studies,  he  received  a 
unanimous  call  from  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  to  become  their  pas- 
tor. In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  he  receiv- 
ed an  invitation  from  the  Old  South  Church, 
Boston,  to  preach  to  them  as  a  candidate ; 
which  invitation  he  thought  it  his  duty  to 
accept.  The  result  was  his  ordination,  and 
installation  as  their  pastor,  in  February,  1821. 
He  here  succeeded  the  Rev.  Joshua  Hunting- 
ton, A.  M.  the  memoirs  of  whose  excellent 
widow,  Mrs.  Susan  Huntington,  he  subse- 
quently gave  to  the  world  ;  a  volume  of  great 
worth  and  usefulness,  which  has  been  justly 
valued  also  in  the  older  hemisphere.  It  is 
now  a  memorial  of  Wisner,  as  well  as  of  his 
very  lovely  theme  ;  and  as  such  will  be  in- 
creasingly prized  and  circulated.  The  sub- 
ject, the  contents,  and  the  author,  now  com- 
plete the  reasons  of  its  worth.  Thousands 
who  loved  that  singularly  gifted  lady,  and 
her  very  exemplary  and  valuable  husband, 
will  associate  his  memory  with  theirs,  mourn- 
ing and  honoring  together  three  happy  and 


MEMOIR    OF    WISNER.  1^7 

congenial  spirits  for  ever  blended  in  a  better 
world  ! 

Shortly  after  his  settlement,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Sarah  Johnson,  of  Johnstown,  N.  Y. 
who  now  sils  a  tcidoir,  with  God,  we  trust) 
her  comforter  in  so  great  a  tribulation  !    He 
alone  can  be  her  compensation  or  repair  her 
loss.    Few  wives  were  so  honoured  in  a  hus- 
band ;  or  had  so  much  to  give  to  heaven  ;  or 
retain  such  reasons  to  be  thanlcful  on  earth. 
Still,  the  trial  is  terrible  ;  and  we  are  not  of 
them  whom  grace  seems — we   had   almost 
said — perversely  to  harden,  against  the  finer 
feelinofs  of  our  created  nature  and  our  con- 
stituted  relations.    Let  bereavement  feel,  and 
let  widows  weep  !    Insensibility  never  sub- 
mits, nor  apathy  acquiesces  in  the  will  of 
God.    Resignation  is  not  indifference  ;  nor 
sorrowing,  sinning  ;  nor  mourning,  murnmr- 
ing.    The  Stoic  and  the  Christian  are  differ- 
ently compounded,  and  their  respective  prin- 
ciples have  little  or  nothing  in  common.    Je- 
sus wept ;  and  certainly  to  widowed  desolate- 
ness  itself,  it  cannot  be  a  mean,  thouirli  it  be 


128  MEMOIR    OP    WISNER. 

an  incidental  consolation,  to  know  in  her  su- 
perior grief  that  she  is  sustained  by  the  exam- 
ple and  condolence  of  afflicted  thousands, 
and  these  the  wise  and  the  good  of  the  earth 
who  are  dispersed  at  large  over  its  continents 
and  islands. 

In  his  pastoral  labors,  Dr.  Wisner  was 
every  way  estimable.  Without  the  glow  of 
poetic  feelings,  his  sound  good  sense,  his 
steady  piety,  the  symmetry  of  his  character, 
his  industry  and  punctuality,  his  usefulness 
and  devotion,  his  reverence  for  the  Scriptures 
and  power  in  explaining  them,  his  impartiali- 
ty and  condescension ;  his  elevation  above 
the  maxims  of  the  worldly  and  the  wisdom 
of  the  vain,  his  conscientious  faith  and  doctri- 
nal purity,  joined  with  the  virtues  that  adorn- 
ed him  in  social  and  domestic  life,  had  the 
effect  which,  under  the  blessing  of  Jehovah, 
they  could  scarce  fail  to  have,  of  gradually 
attaching  a  large  and  respectable  congrega- 
tion, while  they  intrenched  him  proportion- 
ately in  the  esteem  of  the  community. 

In  1828  he  received  from  Union  Colleg-e 


MEMOIR    OF    WISNER.  129 

the  degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity  ;  of  which 
we  may  say,  as  Dr.  Johnson  said  substantial- 
ly in  respect  to  the  same  honor  awarded  to 
Dr.  Watts,  it  would  soon  mean  something 
and  become  of  more  importance,  were  it  al- 
ways conferred  with  equal  judiciousness.   As 
a  testimony  to  the  value  of  a  learned  minis- 
try in  the  sentiments  of  the  general  commu- 
nity, it  may  certainly  be  useful.    It  is  like  a 
banner  displayed  because  of  the  truth  in  that 
relation ;    rebuking    the    presumption,    and 
threatening  the  temerity,  of  ignorance  ap- 
proaching the  altars  of  the  only  wise   God. 
As  it  is  purely  academic  and  literary  in  its 
nature  and  implications,  though  constructive- 
ly attesting  the  liberal  attainments  of  its  sub- 
ject in  sacred  science,  nt  literas  sacras  doc- 
tus  et  docturus*  it  seems  not  soundly  objec- 
tionable in  itself;  and  is  obviously  as  con- 
sistent with  ministerial  parity,  in  respect  to 
official  authority  and  the  commission  of  a 
preacher,  as  are  diversities  of  gifts  or  in- 
*  As  one  that  lias  learned,  and  can  therefore  teach, 
the  science  of  throlojrv. 


130  MEMOIR    OF    WISNER. 

equalities  of  fortune,  in  the  members  of  a  pro- 
fession that  ought  to  be  in  learning  as  indis- 
putably first,  as  in  dignity  and  importance  it 
is  confessedly  incomparable. 

During  his  ministry  here,  Dr.  Wisner  re- 
ceived several  calls  to  different  spheres  of 
prospective  usefulness  and  labor,  all  of  which 
he  deemed  it  duty  to  decline.  Of  these,  one 
of  the  most  important  and  distinguished  was 
that  to  the  vacant  chair  of  Ecclesiastical 
History,  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Aii- 
dover.  The  writer  of  this  sketch  had  provi- 
dentially a  well  remembered  interview  with 
him  during  the  pendency  of  that  important 
call ;  and  is  happy  to  record  his  sense  of  the 
very  correct  and  conscientious  views  enter- 
tained by  Dr.  Wisner  on  the  vai'iously  inter- 
esting aspects  of  that  solemn  question.  What- 
ever may  be  said  of  the  rights  of  Churches 
and  Colleges,  or  even  of  sacred  Seminaries,  to 
call  whom  they  will,  it  is  far  from  being  the 
duty  of  the  other  party  as  certainly  to  accept 
of  it.  The  pastoral  relation  is  a  profoundly 
solemn  one.  and  neither  to  be  contracted  nor 


MCMOiR   OF    WISNER.  13t 

dissolved  on  any  slight  or  common  occasion. 
A  Christian  pastor  seems  like  an  ancient  and 
fruitful  tree,  that  has  long  stood  in  a  favored 
position  ;  that  has  struck  deep  and  far  its  roots 
with  innumerable  fibres,  in  every  direction  ; 
and  proportionably  lifted  its  lofty  branches 
high  and  richly  laden  ;  a  moment  may  fell, 
what  years  only  could  raise  :  and  the  care  or 
the  daring  that  transplants  it,  inflicts  a  thou- 
sand wounds  which  time  can  scarcely  cure  : 
while  the  pains-taking  that  accomplishes  the 
work,  is  often  disappointed  also  of  its  end — 
the  tree  itself  is  injured ;  it  has  lost  its  identity ; 
above  and  below  it  is  mutilated  ;  it  exists  it- 
self no  longer. 

But  there  arc  causes  which  make  removal 
proper  and  obviously  right.  The  want  of 
health,  or  its  progressive  decline,  is  such  a 
cause ;  and  in  the  case  of  Dr.  Wisner,  this 
had  existed  for  more  than  a  year,  previously 
to  the  dissolution  of  the  pastorate,  in  which  he 
had  been  so  useful  and  so  happily  aKsorbed. 
A  visit  to  the  South  was  tried  with  little  suc- 
cess ;  after  wiiicli.  he  enjoyed  with  consider- 


13'2  MEMOIR    OF    WISNER. 

able  benefit,  a  season  of  relaxation  from  his 
fatiguing  labors,  in  Connecticut :  but  without 
much  if  any  radical  improvement. 

After  the  death  of  the  excellent  Dr.  Corne- 
lius, in  February,  1832,  many  eyes  were  fixed 
on  Dr.  Wisner  as  his  proper  successor.  In 
October  of  that  year,  he  received  with  entire 
unanimity  the  appointment  of  Secretary  of 
the  American  Board,  to  fill  the  lamented  va- 
cancy. The  Board  that  year  met  in  this  city. 
It  was  a  solemn  time,  just  after  the  retreat  of 
the  Cholera  from  its  scourging  ministry  and 
its  victim  thousands.  The  writer  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  Committee  to  whom  the  re- 
sponsibility of  nomination  was  referred ;  and 
he  may  here  attest  the  delightful  unity  of 
counsel  that  resulted  in  the  announcement  of 
his  name,  and  which  was  met  in  the  Board 
itself  with  corresponding  harmony.  About 
two  years  and  four  months  he  held  the  oflice 
and  performed  its  weighty  duties.  Of  the 
manner  and  success  of  his  administration, 
this  outline  need  not  anticipate  the  descrip- 
tions of  a  full  and  just  biography.    Sufiice  it 


Memoir   of  wisneu.  13S 

t6  say  that  he  entirely  justified  the  expecta- 
tions that  accompanied  and  induced  his  se- 
lection.   His  known  habits  of  business  and 
order ;  his  practical  wisdom ;   his  extensive 
acquaintance  with  individuals  throughout  the 
church  and  the  country  ;  his  excellent  judg- 
ment of  men,  and  insight  of  character  ;  the 
probability  that  the  active  duties  of  his  new 
position  would  be  favorable  to  his  health ;  and 
the  fact  that,  from  being  so  long  a  member  of 
their  Prudential  Committee,  he  was  minutely 
acquainted  with  the  plans  and  operations,  as 
well  as  the  history,  of  tlie  Board  ;  these  rea- 
sons that  anticipated  his  appointment,  were 
fully  substantiated  by  his  example  and  expe- 
rience in  the  station — from  which  the  voice 
supreme  has  so  lately  and  suddenly  removed 
him,  Avith  the  summons,  Go  up  highor.    In 
the  discharge  of  his  duties,  he  frequently  visit- 
ed different  and  distant  sections  of  the  church  ; 
became  more  widely  known   and  as  exten- 
sively esteemed  ;  was  the  welcome  and  effi- 
cient representative  of  the  cause  among  all 
Its  friends,  wherever  he  found  them ;    and 
12 


134  MEMOIR    OF    WlSNEn 

formed  auxiliary  interests,  and  even  exten* 
sive  boards  and  s^rstematic  agencies,  at  the 
South  and  West.  All  this  seemed,  and  doubt- 
less was,  auspicious  to  his  health,  and  seemed 
— we  had  almost  said,  treacherously — to  pro- 
mise a  prolonged  course  of  years.  His  vigor 
conrtantly  improved  ;  and  but  a  week  or  two 
previous  to  his  death,  he  made  the  remark 
that  his  health  was  better  than  it  had  been 
previously  for  four  years  !  Be  ye  also  ready ; 
for  at  such  an  hour  as  ye  think  not,  the  So7i 
of  man  cotneth. 

But  the  moral  improvement  of  Dr.  Wisner, 
his  growth  in  grace,  and  ripeness  for  glorj'', 
was,  in  the  conviction  of  many,  more  than 
commensurate  with  the  advance  of  his  bodily 
strength.  His  humility  appeared  more  con- 
stant and  profound.  The  severer  parts  of  his 
character  were  progressively  mellowed  and 
softened.  The  manner  in  vv^hich  he  men- 
tioned the  death  of  Munson  and  Lpiian,  at 
the  last  Monthly  Concert  he  ever  attended, 
is  still  fresh  and  fragrant  in  the  memory  of 
those   who   heard    him.       The   uncommon 


MEMOIR    OF    WIsNEK.  135 

feeliiiQf  and  tenderness  he  displayed,  the  cor- 
responding- emotions  he  inspired,  and  the  ef- 
fect of  the  intellicrence  on  his  own  devotions 
at  the  time,  were  remarkably  and  memorably 
distinguished.  Alas  !  he  little  realized — what 
was  then  a  secret  of  the  throne — how  soon 
he  was  to  join  them  !  Laboring  in  the  same 
cause,  and  serving  the  same  divine  master, 
though  far  separated  in  bodily  presence,  they 
were  united  in  interest,  in  heart,  and  in  ulti- 
mate destination.  They  doubtless  met  speedi- 
ly in  heaven,  from  opposite  regions  of  the 
earth  ;  the  appointed  place  of  rendezvous  for 
all  the  army  of  the  church  militant  :  the 
Grand  Head  Qnartersof  their  Glorious  Com- 
mander-in-Chief;  the  city  and  palace  of  the 
Eternal  King. 

Of  the  concluding  scenes  of  Dr.  Wisner's 
life,  we  have  but  a  hurried  and  imperfect  ac- 
count. His  disease,  the  scarlet  fever,  is  well 
known  in  its  ravages  and  its  fatal  precipita- 
tion. It  often  seizes  and  throttles  its  victim  ; 
and  in  a  few  days  completes  the  catastrophe 
of  life  ;  while  medicines  and  human  skill  are 


136  MKMOIR    OP    WISNER. 

laughed  to  scorn  in  its  triumph.  And  what 
is  it  ?  Only  a  name  for  one  of  the  ways,  con- 
sidered in  a  class,  in  which  God  accomplishes 
the  dissolution  of  mortals.  It  is  the  agen- 
cy OF  God  that  does  it.  We  see  the  effects ; 
we  watch  the  progress ;  we  study  the  phe- 
nomena ;  we  witness  the  result ;  we  philoso- 
phize of  causes ;  we  class  the  disease  in  the 
nosological  calendar ;  we  talk  learnedly  of 
its  properties  and  its  nature  ;  we  discuss  re- 
medies and  apply  them ;  and  we  too  often 
overlook  the  grandest  actor  in  the  portentous 
drama — the  cause  of  causes — God  himself! 
He  is  the  Dispenser  of  death,  as  well  as  the 
Author  of  life  and  the  Arbiter  of  destiny. 
Who  doeth  great  things,  past  finding  out ; 
yea,  and  iDonders  without  nimiber.  Lo,  he 
goeth  by  me,  arid  I  see  him  not ;  he  passeth 
on  also,  but  I  ]>erceive  him  not.  Behold,  he 
taketli  away,  who  can  lander  him,  7  who  will 
say  unto  hiin.  What  doest  thou  1  If  God 
will  not  withdraw  his  anger,  the  proud  help- 
ers do  stoop  under  him. 

The  nature  of  his  attack  soon  discovered 


MEMOIR    OF    WISNER  137 

itself,  and  assumed  a  threatening  aspect.  It 
was  accompanied  with  great  soreness  of 
throat,  so  as  to  preckide  all  ordinary  conver- 
sation ;  and  to  consist  only  with  a  few  neces- 
sary words  or  sentences,  interchanged  in  the 
administration  of  palliatives  or  remedies. 
And  what  was  the  state  of  his  mind  .'  From 
all  we  have  heard,  the  inference  seems  sound 
that  persons  at  a  distance  who  knew  him, 
may  judge  almost  as  well  as  his  nearest  at- 
tendants. There  was  no  time  to  converse. 
Even  when  his  thoughts  were  commanded, 
and  his  mind  at  ease,  all  conversation  was 
prudently  forborne.  But  even  this  was  of 
short  duration.  Delirium  supervened,  and 
continued  with  little  abatement  to  the  last. 
Still,  there  were  intervals  or  rather  flashes  of 
reason,  and  words  incoherently  intelligible 
to  the  few  about  him.  It  is  said  of  ranning, 
the  late  splendid  Premier  of  Great  Britian, 
that  during  his  last  delirious  moments,  his 
mind  in  fragments  indicated  its  characteristic 
and  then  convulsive  thoughts,  by  ejaculating 
such  words  as  these — France — a  Foreign 
12* 


138  MEMOIR    OF    WISNER. 

Ambassador — the  court  of  Spain — no  crown- 
ed head  in  Europe^the  royal  cause — the  Brit- 
ish Parhament — Navy — his  Majesty — Ex- 
chequer— Whigs — Tories — Reform  !  With 
such  thoughts  his  spirit  flew  to  its  account. 
Who  will  envy  a  genius  so  august,  that  shed 
magnificence  on  the  highest  office  in  the  gift 
of  the  Majesty  of  England  J  What  is  genius, 
office,  wealth,  or  majesty  itself,  on  a  death- 
bed ?  A  worm  does  not  change  its  nature,  by 
reason  of  its  adventitious  decorations  or  the 
gorgeous  canopy  under  which  it  sickens  and 
expires.  And  who  would  not  rather  die  with 
Wisner  than  with  Canning  ?  But  we  leave 
contrasts  for  the  day  of  judgment ;  we  refer 
them  to  the  wisdom  of  the  Infallible.  In  the 
detached  sentences  and  broken  words  of  Dr. 
Wisner,  the  thingfs  in  which  he  had  been  wont 
to  take  the  deepest  interest  were  plainly  indi- 
cated. The  course  of  his  affections  was  hea- 
venly, and  his  meditations  were  reaching  af- 
ter the  interests  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 
He  was  now  perfecting  a  plan  for  a  great 
auxiliary  combination,  and  now  anticipating 


MEMOIR    OF    WISNER.  139 

llie  objections  that  would  assail  it.  The  niis- 
^sioiuiry  cause  eu<i:iossed  him.  Living  and 
dead  it  was  the  jewel  of  his  heart.  The  re- 
collections of  his  extensive  visitation  accom- 
plished last  autumn,  were  often  interwoven, 
or  rather  torn  to  pieces,  in  his  hurried  and 
confused  expressions.  Of  individuals  occa- 
sionally mentioned,  he  always  spoke  without 
censure,  however  much  he  seemed  to  difi'or 
from  them  in  opinion.  Once,  when  he  ap- 
peared more  at  ease,  his  wife  proposed  to  read 
to  him  a  passage  from  the  Scriptures.  He 
assented,  and  remained  quiet  during  the  ex- 
ercise. This  was  repeated  on  several  occa- 
sions ;  when  he  would  still  be  traiu[uil  till  it 
was  finished,  and  then  proceed  with  his  un- 
intelligible and  often  inarticulate  mutterings. 
It  was  probably  more  from  a  general  sense  of 
propriety,  than  any  apprehension  of  the  sense 
of  Scripture,  that  he  listened  so  calmly  to  its 
reading.  The  changes  in  his  symptoms  seem- 
ed regular  and  constant,  till  his  manly  frame 
yielded  to  the  destroyer.  The  bondage  of 
corruption  is  soon  complete  ;  and  it  shall  soon 


140  MEMOin    OF    WTSXER. 

be  reversed  also,  by  the  fiat  of  Jesus  Christ. 
It  will  then  be  exchanged  for  a  blessed  condi- 
tion ;  the  glorious  lihcriy  of  the  children  of 
God.  For  if  v)e  believe  that  Jesus  died  and 
rose  again,  even  so  them  also  that  sleep  in 
Jesus  icill  God  bring  with  him.  Jesus  saifh 
unto  her,  Thy  brother  shall  rise  again. 

But  we  shall  see  him  no  more  in  this  world. 
Those  who  sought  his  counsel  and  who  va- 
lued it,  can  enjoy  its  advantages  no  more. 
They  who  slighted  his  ministry,  regular  or 
occasional,  and  are  still  impenitent  and  faith- 
less, are  soon  to  meet  him  before  the  Judge 
Eternal.     O  must  he  there  find  his  crown  of 
rejoicing  without  them  ?    Must  he  be  a  swift 
witness  against  any  one  of  his  former  dear 
people  !    If  his  ministry  becomes  to  such  a 
savor  of  death  unto  death,  whose  is  the  fault  ? 
Is  he  to  blame  for  it,  or  are  they  ?    Was  it 
his  desire  ?    Has  God  any  pleasure  in  their 
death  ]    O  earth,  earth,  earth,  hear  the  word 
of  the  Lord.    Take  warning,  as  the  ministry' 
of  his  servants  is  sealed  up.    He  is  withdraw- 
ing many  of  them.  He  takes  away  the  joung, 


MEMOIR     OF    WISNER  141 

the  vigorous,  the  useful.  And  wliat  is  the 
import  of  this  ?  In  earthly  g^overnments,  the 
recall  of  an  ambassador  is  ordinarily  the  pre- 
4l^de  of  war.  The  purposes  of  divine  mer- 
cy towards  any  people,  bear  doubtless  some 
solemn  proportion  to  the  number  and  the 
character  of  his  ministers  retained  among 
them.  If  he  abandons  a  people  wholly,  he  re- 
tains there  not  one  envoy  of  his  own  court — 
though  the  prophets  of  the  devil  are  equally 
or  doubly  multiplied  as  the  others  disappear. 
Has  not  God  a  controversy  with  this  nation  ? 
Why  then  docs  he  remove,  so  remarkably, 
those  who  were  in  his  providence  equally  its 
honor  and  its  guard,  the  chariots  of  Israel 
and  the  horsemen  thereof  7  We  have  been, 
and  still  are,  a  proud  and  boastful  nation,  ra- 
ther than  a  thankful  one.  We  have  deified 
our  free  institutions,  as  if  these  were  the  gods 
of  our  preservation,  and  as  if  we  had  no  slave- 
ry institutions  to  curse  the  land.  The  righte- 
ousness that  exalteth  a  nation,  the  sin  that  is 
a  reproach  to  any  people,  the  grievous  oppres- 
fijons  of  our  fellow  creatures  in  the  midst  of 


1'42  MEMOIR    OF    WISNER. 

US,  are  considerations  little  honored  in  the  ge- 
neral estimate  of  the  country.  Some  of  them 
are  proscribed  topics,  and  they  as  infamously 
proscribed  who  dare  to  tell  men  their  sins  in 
regard  to  them.  There  are  many  other  things 
besides  excellencies  in  the  characteristics  of 
the  nation ;  many  that  are  execrable  in  the 
sight  of  God,  and  which  his  eternal  goodness 
will  not  long  endure  in  any  nation.  The  re- 
moval of  his  ministers  in  different  ways  seems 
to  be  one  of  the  sigrns  of  the  times.  It  is  un- 
doubtedly  a  judgment  and  that  a  hea\7-  one, 
feel  it  who  may  not  or  doubt  it  who  may. 
Let  the  church  arise  and  cry  with  one  voice, 
to  him  who  can  restore  her  beauty,  revive 
her  graces,  increase  her  strength,  evince  her 
unity,  and  prosper  her  victories.  Blow  the 
trumpet  in  Zion,  sanciifi/  a  fast,  call  a  so- 
lemn assembly.  Gather  the  people.,  sanctify 
the  congregatio7ij  assemble  the  elders,  gather 
the  children  and  those  that  suck  the  breasts  ; 
let  the  bridegroom  go  forth  of  his  chamber 
and  the  bride  out  of  her  closet.  Let  the  priests, 
the  m.inisters  of  the  Lord,  weep  between  the 


MEMOIR    OF    WISXER  143 

porch  and,  the  altar,  and  let  them  say,  Spare 
thy  people,  O  Lord,  and  give  not  thine  heri- 
tage to  reproach,  that  the  heathen  should 
ride  over  them.  Wherefore  should  they  say 
among  the  people,  Where  is  their  God? 

The)i  will  the  Lord  be  jealous  for  his  land, 
and  pity  his  people. 

Otherwise,  his  judgments  are  not  exhaust- 
ed ;  his  quiver  is  full  of  arrows  ;  he  can  make 
sin  cost  us  more  than  we  can  afford  to  pay  : 
he  will  be  glorified  at  our  expense,  and  it  is 
not  our  infidelity  or  our  ingenuity  that  will 
save  us. 


DEPOSITORY  OF  THE  PUBLICATIONS 

OF    THE 

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BRICK    CHURCH    CHAPEL, 

Corner  of  Park  Row,  opposite  the  City  Hall, 

NEW-YORK. 


ALL  THE  WORKS  OF  THE  ABOVE  SOCIETY 

aOLD   BY 

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(late    J.    S.    TAYLOR,] 
In    any  Q,uniiti(y,   at   the    Society's    Prices-       ' 


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day  School  Union,  and  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 

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Tatlok  k  Gould  have  also  a  large  and  choice  selec- 
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BOOKS    PUBLISHED 

EY 

TAYI.OR   &   OOULD. 


HINTS  TO   PARENTS,  ON   THE  EARLY   RELIGI- 
OUS EDUCATION  OF  CHILDREN. 
By  Gardiner  Spriko,  D.  D.  Pastor  of  the  Brick  Presby- 
terian Church,  New- York.    l8mo.  with  a  steel  engra- 
ving.   Price  37^-  cents. 
From  t!ie  New- York  Weekly  Messenger  and  Young  Men's  Advoeate. 
Dr.  Spring's  Hints  to  Parents — One  of  the  prettiest 
little  works  of  this  class  that  we  have  ever  met  with,  has 
just  been  published  by  Messrs.  Taylor  &  Gould,  of  this  city  ; 
it  is  called  "  Hints  to  Parents  on  the  Religious  Education  of 
Children.    By  Gardiner  Spring,  D.  D.''    The  author  has 
!)een  long  and  favorably  known  to  the  public  as  a  chaste, 
powerful,  and  popular  writer.    The  subject  of  the  present 
\vork  is  one  of  great  moment — one  in  wliich  every  pa- 
rent has  a  real  interest.    And  we  commend  this  little  vo- 
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bring  up  their  children  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make  them 
an  honor  to  themselves  and  a  blessing  to  their  fellow-men. 
From  the  Commercial  Advertiser. 
Hi.vTS  TO  Parents,  on  the  Religious  Education  of  Chil- 
ilren. — By  Gardiner  Spring,  D.  D. — New-York,  Tatlor 
&.  GotJLD.   This  beautiful  iitlle  volume,  coming  out  at  this 
time,  will  be  peculiarly  acceptable  to  tlie  congregation  of 
tiie  able  and  excellent  author,  and  will  have  the  effect  of  a 
legacy  of  opinions  on  a  most  important  subject,  now  that 
for  a  time  they  are  deprived  of  his  personal  instructions. 
It  is  a  work  that  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  parent 


throughout  our  country,  who  has  tlic  temporal  anil  eterna 
interest  of  his  ofiipring  at  heart.  The  few  and  leading 
maxims  of  the  Christian  Religion  are  plainly  and  practi- 
cally enforced,  and  the  parents'  duties  arc  descanted  in  a 
train  of  pure  and  beautiful  eloquence,  whicli  a  father's 
mind,  elevated  by  religion,  only  could  have  dictated.  We 
believe  that  a  general  knowledge  of  this  little  volume  would 
be  attended  with  consequences  beneficial  to  society,  since 
a  practiccof  its  recommendations  could  scarcely  be  refused 
to  its  solemn  and  alTcctionate  spirit  of  entreaty. 


PLEASURE  AND  PROFIT,  OR  TIME  WELL  SPENT, 

being  the  first  volume  of  a  series. 
Edited  by  Uncle  Arthur.    18mo.     Steel  plate  frontis- 
piece.   Price  37A  cents. 
Says  ttio  New-York  Evangelist— 

Pr.EAJURE  AND  PROFIT,  OR  TiMK  wEr,L  SPENT. — We  have 
before  us  the  first  of  a  series  of  volumes  just  commenced 
by  our  young  friends,  Taylor  &  Gould,  booksellers.  Tiie 
present  volume  contains  a  pleasing  fancy  sketch,  called 
•'  the  Museum  ;  by  Charlotte  Elizabeth  ;  edited  by  Uncle 
Arthur."  We  suspect  that  Uncle  Arthur  i3  the  name  adop- 
ted by  a  gentleman  whose  real  name  would  give  currency  to 
almost  any  thing.  He  and  his  brothers  have  a  happy  fa- 
culty not  only  to  make  excellent  book?,  but  also  to  edit  (or, 
as  we  say  in  plain  linglish,  make  over)  the  books  written 
by  other  people,  so  as  to  render  them  more  entertaining, 
less  erroneous,  more  safe,  and  far  more  u-scful.  We  have 
tried  this  little  book,  by  putting  it  into  the  hands  of  a  "ju- 
venile reader,"  and  tind  it  to  answer  very  well.  The  sen- 
timents are  correct,  tlie  feeling  good,  the  style  pleasing,  the 
price  reasonable. 

From  tho  Commercial  Advertiser. 

Pleasure  and  Profit,  or  Time  welf,  spe.vt. — Vol.  I. 
The  Museum;  by  Charlotte  Elizabeth;  edited  by  Uncle 
Arthur.    'I'aylor  &  Gould. 

If  attractive  bindinu,  paper,  print  and  subject,  can  ren- 
der a  little  book  the  favoiite  of  children,  this  will  he  quite 
popular  among  them.  It  purports  to  be  an  account  of  a 
visit  to  the  Museum  ;  and  the  diflierenl  objects  arc  explained 
in  an  easy  manner,  in  the  form  of  dialogue.  Religious  know- 
ledge is  judiciously  blended  with  instruction  throughout. 


MISSIONARY  REMAINS;  or  Skktches  of  Evarts,  Cornelios, 
AND  WisNER. — By  Gardiner  Spring,  D.  D.  and  others.  With  an 
Introduction  by  Samuel  II.  Cox,  D.  D.  18mo.  with  steel  plate 
frontispiece.    Price  50  cents. 

ADVICE  TO  A  YOUNG  BROTHER,  ON  PRACTICAL  SUB- 
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MEMOIR  OF  MISS  EMILY  EGERTON,  a.v  authentic  Narra- 
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Reserve  College.   18;no.  with  stocl  plate  frontispiece.  Price  31  ct». 

THE  CHRISTIAN  FATHER'S  PRESENT  TO  HIS  CHILDREN. 

By  John  Angell  James.   I8mo.  400  pages.  Price  37J  cents. 

THE  RISE  AND  PROGRESS  OF  RELIGION  IN  THE  SOULr 
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Phillip  Doddridge,  D.  D.   iGl)  pages.    ISnio.   Price  25  cents. 

THE  HAPPY  DEATH  OF  MARY  ANN  CLAPP.— By  Joshua 
Bates,  D.  D.  President  of  Middlebury  College,  Vermont.  18mo. 
Price  18J  cents. 

EARLY  PIETY.— By  Rpv.  Jacob  Abbott,  author  of  "  the  Young 
Christian,"  &c.  3iJmo.   Price  183  cents. 

The  above  books  are  neally  bound  in  muslin  and  stamped,  and  ar«  woiihy  of  a 
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NEW  TF.STAMENT,  designed  for  Sunday  Schools.  ISmo.  muslin 
Price  eight  cents. 

Also  Publishers  of 

THE  NATIONAL  PREACHER,  printed  in  an  elegant  pamphleJ 
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Monthly.  Edited  by  Rev.  Austin  Dickinson.  Price  one  dollar  a 
year  in  advance. 

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THE  SABBATH  SCHOOL  VISITER,  published  by  the  Massachu- 
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Boston.   Price  50  cents. 

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THE  MISSIONARY  HERALD.  Published  for  the  Ambrican  Board 
OF  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions.  Monthly.  Price  $1  50 
a  year. 

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be  left  wHh  Taylor  &  Gould,  and  they  should  forward  any  which  should  not  suit 
the  purchaser,  they  may  be  returned,  and  the  money  will  be  refunded,  or  other  boolu 
given  in  exchange.  Those  wishing  to  purchase  are  invited  to  call  and  examine  their 
stock. 

Taylor  St  Gould  have,  probably,  the  largest  assortment  of  booka  auitable  for  Sua- 
day  School  Libraries  to  be  found  in  Ibe  United  Slates. 


This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last 
date  stamped  below 


2m-10,'48(B1040)470 

LOB  AHQl^iJES 


'"ERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


Lissionary 


7259     remains. 


001252  377    5" 


:a£L 


BX 

7259 

M69 


